To approve a framework setting out the council's approach to partnership working, helping to strengthen accountability and ensure working arrangements are as efficient as possible.

The cabinet member economy and corporate services introduced the report. He highlighted that Herefordshire Council worked in partnership with a range of organisations and in a range of different contexts.  The proposed framework was intended to strengthen governance arrangements and accountability of partnerships the council was involved with. The cabinet member noted that there was no central database of partnership arrangements and that the introduction of the framework would allow a register to be created, published and maintained annually.

The head of corporate governance stated that most partnership arrangements worked well and that some had been in place for a long time. The proposed framework was intended to give assurance and transparency. It also presented an opportunity to review how well each partnership was working and whether it was still achieving the desired outcomes.

In response to a question from a group leader the head of corporate governance stated that it was intended the reviews would take the form of an annual self-assessment but that they could be undertaken less frequently where this was appropriate and proportionate to the nature of the partnership.

A group leader asked when the briefing referred to in the report had taken place. The head of corporate governance stated that this took the form of a written briefing paper distributed as part of a pack in the summer 2016.

A group leader commented that the framework was an important piece of work and should sit alongside the work of the audit and governance committee and the constitution review.

Resolved that:

a)    the draft framework for partnership governance at appendix 1 be approved.