Issue - meetings

To consider the draft Annual Governance Statement 2011/12.

The Committee considered the draft Annual Governance Statement 2011/12.

The final version of the AGS would be submitted to the Committee for approval in September 2012.

The AGS identified a number of governance issues that required action, including the issues and actions arising from Lyme Green. Members commented on the distinction between the good practice referred to in the draft AGS and what had happened in practice with Lyme Green.

Members expressed the wish to see some of the key documentation referred to in the AGS, such as Member job descriptions and reported measures of satisfaction with the Authority. They also commented that the ASPIRE values should be set out in full in the AGS.

Members sought assurances that there were robust schemes of Officer delegation within each Service which set out the decision-making and financial limits on officers at different levels and which could be made available to Members on request. In this respect, Councillor Marren asked for a copy of the delegation scheme for the Places Directorate to be provided the following day, which the officers undertook to provide. The officers also indicated that a comprehensive review of departmental schemes of delegation was underway with a view to reporting back to the Corporate Management Team at the first available opportunity following the agreed deadline of 31^st July. The Council’s main scheme of delegation was being updated to reflect changes to the senior management structure and was to be reviewed by the Constitution Committee as requested by this Committee.

Members suggested that the role of scrutiny in decision-making be referred to the Scrutiny Chairmen’s Group for consideration with a view to ensuring a consistent approach. Councillor M Simon agreed to refer the matter to the Group. The Director of Finance and Business Services advised that, where relevant, future reports to scrutiny committees would not only include the financial implications of any proposals but also relevant budget information. Service Managers would be expected to assume full responsibility for their own budget information when advising committees. The Director would be meeting the Scrutiny Chairmen’s Group with a view to embedding these principles in future reporting practice.

The Committee would receive progress reports on the action plan at future meetings. Members asked that where an action was referred as ‘ongoing’, this term be replaced with a specific time frame in each case.

RESOLVED

That

(1)   the draft Annual Governance Statement be amended to reflect the comments of Members;

(2)   a final version of the AGS be submitted to the Committee for approval at its September meeting;

(3)   Members be provided with the revised delegated decision process workflow and templates and other documentation requested; and

(4)   Members be provided with information on what the Corporate Governance Group is doing to improve compliance with the AGS action plan.