A report by the Chief Executive identified a comprehensive programme of activities for the Committee’s consideration, to address the weaknesses identified in the recent Corporate Governance Report.  The programme identified key areas, key lines of enquiry to be pursued, interdependencies within the programme (whole systems approach) and therefore the necessary skill sets needed in a turnaround team to undertake this work.

The Committee was informed that whilst the Corporate Governance Report demanded significant progress by April 2012, the approach of self-assessment and external validation (peer review) to manage and monitor improvements should be embedded in the organisational culture and managed corporately across all services of the Council beyond that timescale, as part of a wider programme.

Members gave consideration to the additional resources that would have to be made available to support the Corporate Governance work programme and considered the possibility of the creation of a specific budget to support its delivery.

RESOLVED: That

(1)  the work programme to achieve improvements in corporate governance

be approved;

(2)  a detailed timeline identifying future meetings, key activities and milestones be developed to reflect decisions made at this Committee meeting;

(3)  the Chief Executive be requested to report to each meeting of the Committee on progress made against the programme and the timeline in delivering improvements in corporate governance;

(4)  as part of the work programme specific Member involvement be

Identified  at every stage;

(5)  in terms of specific budgetary provision, the Committee agrees, in principle, to providing support to deliver the work programme and requests that the Chief Executive reports to a future Committee meeting detailing how this can be achieved; and

(6)  authority be delegated to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader, to establish a turnaround team of officers to work on strengthening the Council’s corporate governance .