Agenda item

The Service Director Governance and Member Support will submit a report providing an overview of the functions of the Governance and Member Support Business Unit and related elements of the Annual Governance Statement process in line with the Audit Committee work programme.

The Service Director Governance and Member Support submitted a report providing an overview of the functions of the Governance and Member Support Business Unit and related elements of the Annual Governance Statement process in line with the Audit Committee work programme.  The report also gave details of other issues affecting Elected Members.

It was noted that this was the second report submitted to this meeting in accordance with the revised Terms of Reference following approval at the Annual Council meeting held on the 19^th May, 2017.

Particular reference was made to the following:

·         Compliance with regulations introduced in 2012 in relation to the recording and publication of the exercise of executive functions by officers – officer decision-making under delegated powers.  It was noted that these regulation had then been extended in 2014 to include non-executive functions.  It was noted that greater compliance was being achieved and was evidenced by the increased number of decision records coming forward for publication

·         The implications of the need for Elected Members to be individually registered as Data Controllers under the Data Protection Act

·         The greater emphasis and support provided in relation to Elected Members move towards the Digital Council approach

There was a discussion of the way in which the Unit sought to achieve its outcomes.  In relation to the recording of officer decisions, it was noted that the Unit merely provided the structure whereby such decisions could be made, recorded and monitored. 

It was important to ensure that decisions were made in the correct manner and that reports submitted to the various meetings, including Cabinet, met the legislative requirements.  It was stressed that report writers should ideally seek any legal advice before they were submitted to the Unit but that the Unit gave an opportunity for additional oversight prior to the publication of reports.

RESOLVED that the report be received and the Service Director Governance and Member Support be thanked for attending the meeting and for answering Members questions.