2. Members and officers working together to achieve a common purpose with clearly defined functions and roles

Supporting principle: ensure the effective leadership throughout the authority and being clear about Executive and Non-Executive functions and of the roles and responsibilities of Scrutiny

The Council is required to: set out a clear statement of the respective roles and responsibilities of the Executive and of the Executive’s Members individually and the authority’s approach towards putting this into practice

We will do this through the following:

Constitution
Record of decision making and supporting materials

The Council is required to: set out a clear statement of the respective roles and responsibilities of other authority members, members generally and of senior officers

We will do this through the following:

Job descriptions / specifications
Publication of Senior Management Team pay and member allowances
Committee terms of reference
East Kent Joint Arrangements Committee
East Kent Joint Scrutiny Committee

Supporting principle: ensure that a constructive working relationship exists between authority members and officers and that the responsibilities of members and officers are carried out to a high standard

The Council is required to: determine a Scheme of Delegation and reserve powers within the Constitution, including a formal schedule of those matters specifically reserved for collective decision of the authority, taking account of relevant legislation, and ensure that it is monitored and updated when required

We will do this through the following:

Constitution
Local Code of Corporate Governance
Member / Officer protocol
Scheme of Delegation
Senior Management Team/Cabinet

The Council is required to: make a Chief Executive or equivalent responsible and accountable to the authority for all aspects of operational management

We will do this through the following:

Constitution
Codes of Conduct
Core values and priorities
Scheme of Delegation
Job descriptions / specifications
Performance management system
Register of Interests
Whistleblowing Code
Gifts and hospitality register

The Council is required to: develop protocols to ensure that the Leader and Chief Executive negotiate their respective roles early in the relationship and that a shared understanding of roles and objectives is maintained

We will do this through the following:

Scheme of Delegation
Member / Officer protocol

The Council is required to: make a Senior Officer (the Section 151 Officer) responsible to the authority for ensuring that appropriate advice is given on all financial matters, for keeping proper financial records and accounts, and for maintaining an effective system of internal financial control

We will do this through the following:

Section 151 provision
Statutory reports
Job descriptions / specifications
Reports to Members / Officers on financial matters
Standing Orders
Financial Procedure Rules
Scheme of Delegation
Annual review of the council's internal audit arrangements report
Contract with East Kent Audit Partnership
Internal Audit Plan

The Council is required to: make a senior officer (usually the Monitoring Officer) responsible to the authority for ensuring that agreed procedures are followed and that all applicable statutes and regulations are complied with

We will do this through the following:

Monitoring Officer provision
Job descriptions / specifications
Scheme of Delegation
Standing Orders

Supporting principle: ensuring relationships between the authority, its partners and the public are clear so that each knows what to expect of the other

The Council is required to: develop protocols to ensure effective communication between members and officers in their respective roles

We will do this through the following:

Member / officer protocol

The Council is required to: set out the terms and conditions for remuneration of members and officers and an effective structure for managing the process, including an effective remuneration panel (if applicable)

We will do this through the following:

Pay and conditions policies and practices

The Council is required to: ensure that effective mechanisms exist to monitor service delivery

We will do this through the following:

Appraisal process
East Kent HR Partnership HR system / i-Trent
East Kent HR Partnership Service Level Agreements
Budget monitoring
National indicators
Local indicators
Corporate Plan
Performance reporting

The Council is required to: ensure that the organisation’s vision, strategic plans, priorities and targets are developed through robust mechanisms, and in consultation with the local community and other key stakeholders, and that they are clearly articulated and disseminated

We will do this through the following:

Thanet Vision 2030
Thanet Strategy
Corporate Plan
Service plans
Star Chamber
Medium Term Financial Plan
Performance Management Framework
Annual budget and Council Tax consultation
Public consultation and engagement
Policy Board

The Council is required to: when working in partnership, ensure that members are clear about their roles and responsibilities both individually and collectively in relation to the partnership and to the authority

We will do this through the following:

Partnership Framework
East Kent Joint Arrangements Committee
East Kent Joint Scrutiny Committee

The Council is required to: when working in partnership:

ensure that there is clarity about the legal status of the partnership
ensure that representatives of organisations both understand and make clear to all other partners the extent of their authority to bind their organisation to partner decisions

We will do this through the following: