Topic: Constitutions and formal governance
An authority’s constitution is central to its formal governance arrangements. First and foremost it is a rulebook setting out how things like decision-making and accountability should work. But it also provides a framework for relationships and a way to build and embed the kinds of behaviours and attitudes that contribute to a strong governance culture.
This section contains commentary on constitutions generally as well as technical guidance on their review and redrafting. It also contains material setting out options for governance change by local authorities (eg councils using their power to adopt the committee system form of governance).
Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council
A report which showcases the wide-scale application of four principles of effective scrutiny across the Borough Council.
The use of call-in: guidance for English authorities
A technical paper giving advice on the operation and review of critical elements of governance framework for local authorities in England.
The review and redrafting of constitutions: guidance for English authorities
A technical paper giving advice on the operation and review of critical elements of governance framework for local authorities in England.
Reviewing schemes of delegation: guidance for English authorities
A technical paper giving advice on the operation and review of critical elements of governance framework for local authorities in England.
Council size changes: learning lessons from submissions and implementation
Research on the process electoral review in England, 2022.
Reviewing council constitutions
[UPDATE: the guide referred to in this blog was published in late 2022 and can be found here]. A bit later in the autumn we will be producing a guide to the drafting and revision of effective council constitutions, funded by the LGA. In carrying out this work we’re get to get the insights of […]
“Docking in”: changing the way we act on local democracy
A guide for rethinking how local decisions get made – and the changes that we might need to make in local democracy after the pandemic.
Bolstering governance
This week (w/c 5 July 2021), we are starting work to highlight the need for councils to support and bolster their commitments to good governance, as we continue to emerge from the pandemic. The pandemic has been exceptionally tough. Restrictions are being removed in the coming weeks but we are far from through this emergency. […]
Remote meetings partnership: compendium of information on remote meetings
In England, a partnership of national organisations came together in March 2020 to support councils to put remote meetings arrangements in place. In recent months, the partnership has been co-ordinating discussion on the planned end of remote meeting powers on 6 May 2021, and exploring alternative options and actions to mitigate. This document is intended […]
The governance risk and resilience framework
A note on this document: Following the move to a new website, some of the links – in particular ‘Material for councillors and officers in general’, and ‘Material for those with a leadership responsibility on good governance’ – as well as pictures on this page are not currently working. Introduction What is the governance risk […]