Code of Corporate Governance

'Corporate Governance' may be defined as ‘the systems by which local authorities direct and control their functions and relate to their communities’.

As with all local authorities, Wrexham CBC is by nature, a complex organisation which affects the lives of all citizens and communities in the area: As well as being responsible for a diverse range of services, we also have important opportunities for influence and leadership in the area, such as in the provision of other public services like Health and the Police, or in encouraging investment in the area’s economy.

Our declared vision and strategic aims reflect these responsibilities and roles. If these are to be met, then we must establish and maintain the confidence of all citizens, local communities and all other persons who have a stake in the Council’s business. There must be confidence:

• in members, who are the democratically elected and politically accountable policy-makers responsible for leading the Council and scrutinising its business,

• in all senior officers, who must provide impartial support for members and who advise on and enact the Council’s policies,

• in all our employees, agents and partner-organisations who provide services for the Council,

• in all our structures and processes,

• in the Council’s relationships with other organisations who provide services.

We also realise that the setting of high standards of self governance provides a clear and demonstrable lead to all existing and potential partners

For there to be such confidence, then there must be good corporate governance - we must direct and control our functions well and relate to our communities. This local code, which is based upon the guidance jointly provided by the CIPFA (Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy) and SOLACE (Society of Local Authority Chief Executives), expresses our commitment to the practice of good corporate governance and to its underlying principles.

These are:

• openness – we seek genuine consultation with all our stakeholders and to provide access to full, accurate and clear information,

• inclusivity - we seek to ensure that all of our stakeholders and potential stakeholders have the opportunity to engage in the decision-making process,

• integrity – we will conduct our business honestly, selflessly and objectively, and will operate to the highest standards of propriety and probity in managing all our affairs and in the stewardship of public funds,

• accountability – all members and staff are responsible for their decisions and actions and will submit themselves to the appropriate external scrutiny,

• effectiveness – all our systems and processes mentioned in this code will, be monitored for their effectiveness,

• up-to-date - our systems and processes will also be subject to an ongoing review to ensure that they remain up-to-date.

The code describes the various systems, processes and documentation that demonstrate how we manage our business in accordance with these principles. They are set out over the five fundamental aspects of our business:

1. Community Focus,

2. Service Delivery Arrangements,

3. Structures and Processes,

4. Risk Management and Internal Control,

5. Standards of Conduct.

Our commitment to good corporate governance also includes the development, adoption and continued maintenance of the code, monitoring its effectiveness and measuring the extent of compliance. Accordingly, the results of an annual assessment will be published in the statement of accounts.

Code of Corporate Governance

The document is available to download in the following formats:

Code of Corporate Governance - MS Word format 86Kb

Code of Corporate Governance - PDF format 125Kb

Code of Corporate Governance - Plain Text format 171Kb