Agenda item - Code of Corporate Governance

Report of Head of Legal & Democratic Services (copy attached).

(1)  That the draft updated Code of Corporate Governance be noted & approved.

7.1     The Committee considered a report of the Head of Legal and Democratic Services which informed Members that the 2013/14 annual governance statement noted that to ensure continuous improvement in the Council’s governance arrangements; the Council would review its Code of Corporate Governance.  Appendix 1 set out a draft updated Code.  The report was presented by the Monitoring Officer & Head of Legal & Democratic Services. 

7.2     The Monitoring Officer & Head of Legal & Democratic Services suggested that the committee should approve the report and refer it to full Council for information.  Typographical errors in the report would be corrected.  (Page 11 - deletion of the word ‘of’ in first bullet point of Principal 1 and; page 12 - ‘oversea’ to read oversee on the first bullet point).

7.3     Dr Horne endorsed the recommendation to refer the report to full Council for information. 

7.4     Councillor Taylor stated that he was pleased to see Principal 4: ‘The Council will take informed and transparent decisions that promote value for money and are subject to effective scrutiny and managing risk.’  Councillor Taylor would have liked to have seen this as Principal 1.  He asked what would happen next.  The Monitoring Officer & Head of Legal & Democratic Services reported that the code was a ‘live’ document.     

7.5     Councillor Robins stated that he would have liked to see an explanation of Contract Standing Orders.  He asked if there could be a further appendix.  The Monitoring Officer & Head of Legal & Democratic Services replied that he would provide a glossary to explain terms used in the report.  

7.6     RESOLVED - 

(1)  That the draft updated Code of Corporate Governance be noted & approved.