Corporate Governance

 

Council Governance

Governance is the system by which local authorities direct and control their functions and relate to their communities.  West Lothian Council has produced its own code of corporate governance to ensure that the principles of good governance apply to everything it does. 

Principles of Good Governance

  • Openess and inclusivity
    Openess is essential to ensure that everyone has confidence in the decision making and management processes of the council.  It involves an inclusive approach with everyone having the opportunity to engage effectively with the decision making process of the council.
  • Intergrity
    Integrity is based on honesty, selflessness and objectivity and involves high standard of propriety  and probity in the stewardship of public funds and the management of the council's affairs.
  • Accountability
    Accountability is the process by which the council, the elected members and officers are responsible for their actions and decisions. 
  • Leadership
    leadership overarches the principles of good governance andis vital if te principles are to be upheld.  The council undertakes to exercise leadership through decision making and other actions that provide a vision and leadership for the local community and by elected members and officials conducting themselves in accordance with high standard of conduct. 

Areas of Council Business

It is important that the principles of good governance apply to every area of the council's business.  The council's code of corporate governance groups the council's business into five themes and reports on how the principles of good governance apply to each of these themes:

  • Community Focus
  • Service Delivery Arrangements
  • Structures and Processes - both political and managerial
  • Risk Management and Internal Control
  • Standards of Conduct

Annual Review and Reporting

The council's Chief Legal Officer undertakes an annual review of the council's code of corporate governance to make sure that the principles of good governance are in place.  Following the review, an annual report on the local code of corporate governance is produced showing how well the council is doing.