Issue - meetings

ORDERED that Executive

1.    Endorses the proposed governance arrangements for delivery and oversight of the Transformation Portfolio;

2.    Notes that to ensure transparency of project resourcing costs within the transformation portfolio and its agreed project financial profiling, any decision to appoint project expense on an interim basis to ensure specialist input with a focus on return on investment, will be taken by the Chief Executive as Transformation Portfolio Senior Responsible Officer, in consultation with the Mayor; and

3.    Approves the delegated decision-making powers relating to approval of proposed change controls to enable projects to be brought back within tolerances relating to time, scope, cost and benefit and as set out in the Programme and Project Management Framework (PPMF), except where this would be a key decision and Executive approval would be sought through the governance arrangements outlines in this report or via an additional Executive report where a more urgent decision is required.

The Mayor and Executive Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health submitted a report for Executive’s consideration.

The intent of the report was to provide assurance to the Executive that the existing Programme and Project Management governance arrangements and those which were proposed specifically for oversight of the Transformation Portfolio and delivery of intended benefits were sufficient and robust.

The Council was currently mid-way through a corporate governance improvement journey, following the report and findings of the Council’s external auditor, Ernst and Young LLP in July 2022 which reported significant areas of concerns in governance, including relations between members and officers.

Following communication of the findings of the external auditor, the Council brought in external support (CIPFA and the LGA) to support with the development of the corporate governance improvement plan, alongside undertaking a review of the organisation’s financial resilience.

Despite progress made, in January 2023, the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC), issued a Best Value Notice. To respond effectively to the wider governance challenges facing the Council, the corporate governance improvement plan was refreshed in September 2023 around two specific themes: cultural transformation and financial resilience. Simultaneously, the external auditor escalated concerns via statutory recommendations, under Section 24 of the Local Audit and Accountability Act, which the Council responded to with an action plan of improvements, aligning with the Corporate Governance Improvement Plan intentions.

ORDERED that Executive

1.    Endorses the proposed governance arrangements for delivery and oversight of the Transformation Portfolio;

2.    Notes that to ensure transparency of project resourcing costs within the transformation portfolio and its agreed project financial profiling, any decision to appoint project expense on an interim basis to ensure specialist input with a focus on return on investment, will be taken by the Chief Executive as Transformation Portfolio Senior Responsible Officer, in consultation with the Mayor; and

3.    Approves the delegated decision-making powers relating to approval of proposed change controls to enable projects to be brought back within tolerances relating to time, scope, cost and benefit and as set out in the Programme and Project Management Framework (PPMF), except where this would be a key decision and Executive approval would be sought through the governance arrangements outlines in this report or via an additional Executive report where a more urgent decision is required.

OPTIONS

It was imperative that the Council effectively articulated the governing arrangements to ensure achievement of the intended financial and non-financial benefits of the Transformation Portfolio.

REASONS

To enable the Executive to endorse the Transformation Portfolio governance arrangements to ensure effective oversight its programmes and projects, delivery of its intended benefits and that the appropriate delegated decision-making authorities are in place to support good governance and progress at pace of the Transformation Portfolio.