Issue - meetings

The Council’s Code of Corporate Governance - ‘the Code’ - was updated and brought to the Committee in November 2023. The Code sets out the principles of good governance, and the arrangements the Council has in place to demonstrate its compliance with them. As part of best practice, the Code is reviewed annually by officers and submitted to the Audit & Scrutiny Committee. Attached at Appendix 1 is an updated Code, representing changes since last year’s edition.

The Council’s Code of Corporate Governance - ‘the Code’ - was updated and brought to the Committee in November 2023. The Code sets out the principles of good governance, and the arrangements the Council has in place to demonstrate its compliance with them. As part of best practice, the Code is reviewed annually by officers and submitted to the Audit & Scrutiny Committee. Attached at Appendix 1 is an updated Code, representing changes since last year’s edition.

The following matters were considered:

a)            Chair comments. The Chair highlighted paragraph 1.1, and invited Members to provide feedback on the document, as part of the annual review.

b)            Approval Process. A Member of the Committee queried why the document was approved by the Strategic Leadership Team, when it has been approved by Committee decision in the past and asked if this would be the case going forward. The Business Assurance Manager explained that due to the Terms of Reference of the Audit and Scrutiny Committee, it was deemed the most appropriate place to bring the document, however, during the most recent review, it was decided that as the document is purely operational, it is being brought to Committee to note, rather than approve. The Business Assurance Manager informed the Committee that the Annual Governance Statement, is the important document that will be presented to Members for their comments and feedback as normal. The Member expressed their concern that a document regarding governance was being approved by Officers and not Councillors.

c)            Councillor Involvement. A Member of the Committee raised that Councillor involvement is not mentioned under the Principle D. The Business Assurance Manager noted the comment and informed the Committee that listed under Principle E is, ‘Corporate performance report is taken to Audit and Scrutiny Committee’. The Business Assurance Manager invited Members to raise any thoughts and comments on this and agreed they would be taken away and looked at.

d)            Recordings. A Member of the Committee asked why YouTube recordings of Committee Meetings are taken down. The Interim Director of Corporate Services informed the Committee that the YouTube recording is removed, once the minutes of that meeting are agreed as the true record of the meeting. The Business Assurance Manager informed the Member that a further written response would be provided after the meeting.

e)            Document Type. A Member of the Committee asked if the Code of Corporate Governance is a descriptive document, that summarises various procedures that are taking place that have been decided elsewhere by other Committees, rather than a rulebook. The Business Assurance Manager confirmed the Member is correct.

Following consideration, the Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)          Note the updated Code of Corporate Governance attached at Appendix 1.