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Corporate Governance

Corporate Governance

Good governance is concerned with making sound decisions and with ensuring their effective implementation. For Councils, this is the framework that should secure improvements in the quality of life for local people.

It's about providing the best possible service to our customers by ensuring that at all times Councillors and officers act consistently, transparently, and appropriately in line with our organisational standards to achieve our corporate vision.

The policies and procedures in this section make up Colchester Borough Council's Corporate Governance arrangements.

For more information contact the Monitoring Officer, andrew.weavers@colchester.gov.uk or telephone 01206 282213.

  • Annual Governance Statements

    The Council is required to produce an Annual Governance Statement which gives an outline of its governance controls and the procedures that are in place.

  • Anti-Fraud and Corruption Policy

    Colchester Borough Council will proactively seek to deter, prevent and detect any instances of fraud and corruption.

  • Budget Strategy

    The Council's budget strategies are shown here.

  • Business Continuity Strategy

    This Business Continuity Strategy provides the framework for a Plan to be implemented by the Council in order to mobilise its response and undertake work to prevent or mitigate the severity of potential disruptions.

  • Cabinet terms of reference

    The Meetings General Procedure Rules shall apply to all meetings of the Cabinet except as varied by these Cabinet Procedure Rules.

  • Capital Programme 2010/11

  • Chief Finance Officer's Protocol

    The Chief Finance Officer has responsibility for the administration of the Council's financial affairs.

  • Code of Corporate Governance

    Corporate Governance "is the system by which organisations are directed and controlled".

  • Code of practice on covert surveillance

    The Council enforces the law in a number of areas. As part of this enforcement there will be occasions where surveillance of individuals or property is necessary to ensure that the law is being complied with.

  • Communications Strategy

    Colchester Borough Council is currently reviewing the organisation's communications strategy.

  • Complaint Handling Procedure

    Colchester Borough Council wants to give the best possible service to all our customers we therefore have procedures in place for responding to complaints.

  • Contract Procedure Rules

    Every contract, whether made by the Council on its own behalf or for another Authority shall comply with these Contract Procedure Rules, except as otherwise specified in this Rule.

  • Corporate Information Security Policy

    Information resources are vital to Colchester Borough Council in the delivery of services to residents, businesses and visitors. Their availability, integrity, security and confidentiality are essential to maintain service levels, legal compliance and the public image and public perception of Colchester Borough Council. This policy is designed to provide an appropriate level of protection to the information for which Colchester Borough Council is responsible

  • Designation of Proper Officers

    Details of officers roles and responsibilities.

  • Equality and Diversity

    To find out more about the Council's commitment to diversity read the Equality and Diversity pages.

  • Financial Regulations

    The Council is required by law, section 151 of the local Government Act 1972 and the Accounts and Audit Regulations 1996, to conduct its business efficiently and to ensure that it has sound financial management policies in place, which are strictly adhered to. Part of this process is the establishment of Financial Regulations, which set out the financial policies of the Council.

  • Gifts Hospitality Protocol

    Colchester's Members' Code of Conduct requires Members and Co-opted Members to include in their Notice of Registerable Interests details of any gift or hospitality received as part of their official duties which may be over the value of twenty five pounds.

  • Health and Safety Policy

    Colchester Borough Council's Strategic Health and Safety Policy commits the Council to carrying out its undertakings in such a way as to ensure that it is not harmful to the health and safety of its employees, contractors, and others persons not in the employ of the Council.

  • Internal Audit Plans

    Audit plans for 2009/10 and 2010/13.

  • Local Councils Charter

    This part of the Constitution contains the Charters agreed with the Colchester Association of Local Councils to enhance the partnership arrangements between the Council and Parish/Town Councils in the Borough.

  • Local Government Ombudsman

    The Local Government Ombudsman is an independent person who investigates allegations of maladministration causing injustice to the person who has complained.

  • Local Government Ombudsman Annual Review

    This annual review provides a summary of the complaints the Local Government Ombudsman has dealt with on Colchester Borough Council. They have included comments on our performance and complaint handling arrangements.

  • Member/Officer Protocol

    The purpose of this protocol is to provide a guide to good working relationships between Officers and Councillors (here called Members), to define the respective roles of Members and Officers and provide some principles governing conduct.

  • Members Allowances Scheme

    Each Councillor shall be paid a Basic Allowance, and those Councillors who undertake special responsibilities shall be paid a Special Responsibility Allowance.

  • Members Code Of Conduct

    This Code of Conduct applies to all Councillors and co-opted persons that have been appointed to the Council, Cabinet, Panels and Committees and Sub-Committees of the Council

  • Monitoring Officer Protocol

    Monitoring Officer has responsibilities, powers and duties in relation to issues which include legality, maladministration, probity, procedure, vires, constitutional and ethical matters. The Monitoring Officer will discharge the responsibilities with determination and in a manner which will enhance the reputation of the Council.

  • National Fraud Initiative - Fair Processing Notice

    Colchester Borough Council is required by law to protect the public funds it administers

  • Partnership Strategy

    The Council has developed a strategy to manage project when working with partners.

  • Planning Procedures Code of Practice

    This Code of Practice describes how the Council deals with planning applications. It applies to all councillors who are involved in the development control and planning policy process. It recognises the separate roles of councillors and officers.

  • Procedure Rules for Committees and Member Roles

    This part of the Constitution (Part 4) contains the rules that the Council is required to have in place both by law and those which contribute to the corporate governance of the Council which govern how the various meetings of the Council will be conducted. In addition, it contains other rules relating to the budget and policy framework, financial procedures, the letting of contracts and the employment of officers.

  • Procurement Strategy

    The Council procures goods and services from various suppliers and this is governed by our procurement strategy.

  • Register of Interests - Councillors

    All councillors are required to provide details of any interests they have outside of their councillor responsibilities as described under the Members Code of Conduct.

  • Resources Protocol

    The purpose of this protocol is to provide a guide to the use of Council resources by Councillors.

  • Responsibility for functions

    Section 13 of the Local Government Act 2000 provides that all the functions of the authority shall be functions of the Cabinet except in so far as they are reserved to the Council by the Local Government Act 2000, by subsequent legislation or by regulations made under the Local Government Act 2000.

  • Risk Management Strategy

    The Risk Management Strategy was agreed by Council in October 2010.

  • Safeguarding Children Policy

    All children are entitled to a safe and happy childhood regardless of age, race, disability, culture or gender. This includes having the right to protection from all forms of abuse. Colchester Borough Council has a wide range of services and facilities. This policy aims to ensure that all of these are addressed with an overeaching approach to Safeguard.

  • Scheme of Delegation to Officers

    The Cabinet has delegated to individual members of the Cabinet most of its executive powers of implementation within the confines of the Council's budget and policy framework.

  • Standards Committee

    All councils are required to establish a Standards Committee as part of an ethical framework for public authorities under the Local Government Act 2000. The aim is to promote high standards of ethical conduct among elected councillors, independent and co-opted members.

  • Standards Committee Annual Report

    Annual Report of Colchester Borough Council's Standards Committee and covers the period from 1 April 2009 to 31 March 2010.

  • Strategic Plan

    Our Strategic Plan is the council's most important document because it sets out how we will play our part in making Colchester a place where people want to live, work and visit.

  • The Constitution

    The Colchester Borough Council adopted the Constitution on 17 April 2002 which came into effect from 15 May 2002 which sets out how the Council operates, how decisions are made and the procedures which are followed to ensure that these are efficient, transparent and accountable to the residents of the Borough of Colchester. Some of these processes are required by law, while others are a matter for the Council to choose.

  • Whistleblowing Policy

    The Council is committed to the highest possible standards of openness, probity, accountability and honesty. In line with that commitment we expect employees, councillors and others that we deal with who have serious concerns about any aspect of the Council's work to come forward and voice those concerns. This policy document makes it clear that employees and councillors can do so without fear of victimisation, subsequent discrimination or disadvantage.