A report by the Chief Executive served to assist the improvements under way in respect of the Council’s Corporate Governance arrangements.  

Members were informed that good governance meant:

• focussing on the purpose of the authority and on outcomes for the community and creating and implementing a vision for the local area;
• Members and officers working together to achieve a common purpose with clearly defined functions and roles;
• promoting the values for the authority and demonstrating the values of good governance through upholding high standards of conduct and behaviour;
• taking informed and transparent decisions which are subject to effective scrutiny and managing risk;
• developing the capacity and capability of members and officers to be effective; and
• engaging with local people and other stakeholders to ensure robust public accountability.

The Chief Executive’s report proposed that Corporate Governance Development and Training be reviewed and improved across the Council.  It also proposed that a Corporate Governance Amnesty to enable officers and partners to have confidential conversations and discussions with Cabinet Members.  This would allow them to air Corporate Governance concerns in confidence and without fear of reprisal.

An Improving Corporate Governance Report by AKA was attached at Appendix A to the report.  The programme outlined in Appendix A was in addition to the Key Lines of Enquiry (KLOE) work, previously considered by this Committee.  Plans in respect of each KLOE were appended to the report at Appendix B for the Committee’s consideration.

The report recommended that a Members’ development programme should run ahead of the officer programme to enable the change programme to be led by those who had the legitimacy of the electorate.  It was considered essential that this programme was shaped by Elected Members.  It was also proposed to work with the Member Training Steering Group to draft a questionnaire and carry out interviews to establish what further development Members would like.  The aim was to consult, design and commission appropriate development programmes for Members, officers and partners.

The report also proposed cross departmental activity, a Joint Cabinet and Chief Officer Discussion Forum, set out overarching timelines for the activity proposed and a list of milestones.

The Committee was concerned that the draft Protocol – Promoting Good Governance in Wirral MBC had not been included as an appendix to the report. 

Councillor S Foulkes informed that the Corporate Governance Amnesty would be presented to the work force once the draft Protocol was made available to the Committee as had been requested.  The Committee wanted clear guidelines to deal with Corporate Governance complaints quickly and systematically.

Councillor J Green highlighted, in relation to the proposed Corporate Governance Amnesty, that there were some elements of the report he had some concerns over.

It was noted that there was a confidential email address that could be used by Council staff, who wanted to raise there concerns, but were not happy doing this directly with the politicians.

The Committee had regard to its scheduled meeting dates, KLOEs, work required and timelines.  Councillor A McLachlan informed of the progress being made in respect of KLOE 6 – Review of Committee Services including a Review of Committee Reports over the last three months.  It was noted that a Working Group had been established and was due to meet on 9 January 2012.

It was reported that a Democracy Working Party had been set up comprising two Members of each Political Group to seek to achieve consensus on the most appropriate form of democracy within the Council, taking into account the strengths and weaknesses both of the old Committee system and the current Cabinet system, and of any legislation and subsequent regulations as they become known.  It was noted that this Working Party may wish to report feedback in relation to KLOE 6, and possibly link in with work being carried out. 

It was suggested that, to provide some continuity, it would be helpful, for a Member of a the Democracy Working Party and the Member Training Steering Group to join the Committee Services Working Group on KLOE 6.  It was agreed that meetings needed to be timetabled to coincide with when decisions were required and recommendations being considered around the KLOEs.

The Chief Executive informed that he had written to Members setting out the definition of what a KLOE Lead Member would do.  There had been no feedback on this so he presumed they were happy with the detailed definitions provided.  If this was the case, he would circulate these definitions wider.

Councillor J Green informed that if any Member leading on a KLOE wanted some support from Conservative Members they were welcome to discuss this with him.

RESOLVED: That

(1)  the Director of Law, HR and Asset Management be requested to provide each of the three Political Group Leaders with a copy of the draft Protocol – Promoting Good Governance in Wirral MBC and the Deputy Director be requested to provide them with a report on Action 2 and if there is a consensus of agreement the Protocol and recommendations in respect of Action 2, they be adopted, but if not, a special meeting of the Committee be convened to consider all of the issues raised in detail;

(2)  the recommendations of the Improving Corporate Governance in Wirral MBC Report, as set out in Appendix A to the report, be agreed in principle, subject to the agreement of the draft Protocol at (2) above;

(3)  the project plans, as set out at Appendix B to the report, be noted; and

(4)  the current Committee meeting schedule will remain in place for the time being but meetings will be cancelled if there is insufficient business to be transacted.