Can small, unnoticed compromises in governance lead to significant failures within local authorities? Join me and Matt Masters, host of Truth About Local Government, as we unpack the subtle but impactful risk of incremental creep in local government governance. We discuss how outdated governance documents and informal practices can gradually erode transparency and accountability. Our conversation sheds light on the importance of maintaining integrity and minimum standards, as well as the critical role of external, objective oversight in preventing systematic weaknesses.

As we shift focus to improving governance within local authorities, we emphasise embedding strong practices and resetting values at the first sign of trouble. Matt and I explore strategies like implementing clear decision-making systems, performance dashboards, and budget trackers to avert governance issues. We also highlight the crucial role of public accountability, urging the involvement of residents through panels and surveys to enhance transparency and engagement. The development and training of elected officials are key to effective leadership, while external reviews offer fresh perspectives using tools such as the CIFPA governance framework and LGA peer support. Our conversation touches on resetting governance culture after standards slip, focusing on continuous skill development and the role of Overview and Scrutiny as well as Audit Committees.

Kirsty highlights warning signs like inadequate record keeping and councillor disengagement and underscores the significance of active participation from councillors and statutory officers in maintaining governance integrity.

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