Governance of the Council

Governance is about doing things in the right way, for the right people and at the right time. This includes being inclusive, open, transparent, honest and accountable in everything we do. In this way, we should achieve what we plan to do, while always acting in the public interest.

Our Local Code of Corporate Governance describes the arrangements that we have in place to ensure effective governance.

Principles of good governance

We comply with a recognised governance framework for local government. It was issued in 2016 by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) and the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives and Senior Managers (SOLACE).

The framework comprises seven key principles:

1. behaving with integrity, demonstrating strong commitment to ethical values, and respecting the rule of law
2. ensuring openness and comprehensive stakeholder engagement
3. defining outcomes in terms of sustainable economic, social and environmental benefits
4. determining the interventions necessary to optimise the achievement of the intended outcomes
5. developing the entity’s capacity, including the capability of its leadership and the individuals within it
6. managing risks and performance through robust internal control and strong public financial management
7. implementing good practices in transparency, reporting, and audit, to deliver effective accountability

All our members and officers have a responsibility for upholding the principles of good governance.

Further information on the council’s governance arrangements are included on our performance and spending page.