Standing Orders

The Standing Orders of the Education Workforce Council document its systems and procedures of corporate governance.

The Standing Orders are in four sections:

Section I – The Council and its Members

Section II - The Conduct of Meetings

Section III – Committees and the Delegation of Functions

Section IV – Financial Control

These Standing Orders supplement the provisions of the Education (Wales) Act 2014 (as amended) and related Regulations.

In these Standing Orders “the Council” refers to the Education Workforce Council and (where the context admits) a Committee of the Council acting under delegated powers.

These Standing Orders were adopted by Council on 14 March 2024 and supersede all previous versions. They apply to any Council or Committee meeting held on or after 14 March 2024.

Section I – The Council and its Members

The Council

The Council shall be known as the “Education Workforce Council” (EWC) or “Cyngor Y Gweithlu Addysg” (CGA).

Membership

The Council has 14 members, where possible made up of:

seven members appointed by Welsh Ministers from nominees of organisations set out in Schedule 2 of the Education Workforce Council (Membership and Appointment) (Wales) Regulations 2018 (as amended);

seven members appointed directly by Welsh Ministers.

Term of office and vacancies

The term of office of a member shall be specified by Welsh Ministers but shall not exceed 5 years. The term of office for current members is 4 years.

If a vacancy arises, the Welsh Ministers shall fill the vacancy in accordance with paragraph 8 of the Education Workforce Council (Membership and Appointment) (Wales) Regulations 2018 (as amended).

Removal from office

A member may be removed from office by a majority vote of other members if, without good cause, the member has been absent from three consecutive Council meetings or the member has been absent from meetings for a period of six months or more starting with the date on which the member last attended a Council meeting, providing that the member has been given an opportunity to make oral representations at the Council. The member may choose to have this heard in Private Session.

A member shall cease to hold office if any of the criteria in paragraph 6(3) of Schedule 1 to the Education (Wales) Act 2014 (as amended) are met.

Chairperson

The Council will elect a Chairperson from amongst its number.

The Chairperson will normally serve a four year term of office. The Chairperson may resign at any time by giving notice in writing to the Chief Executive.

Details of the system for electing the Chairperson are set out in the Council’s System for Election of Chairperson of Council.

The Chairperson may be removed as Chairperson by a majority vote of at least two thirds of the Council members.

In attendance

As well as Council members, the meeting will usually be attended by the following Council officers:

Chief Executive;

Directors;

Corporate Governance Officer;

other members of staff for agenda items for which they are presenting papers, to be available to respond to questions on those papers if deemed necessary by the Chief Executive; and

other EWC officers as observers to proceedings for the public session of the meeting.

Observer status

Where such organisations exist, the Chief Executives and Chairpersons of other UK and Ireland Teaching Councils or their nominees will be granted observer status for the public business of Council on a reciprocal basis. The Chairperson, if appropriate and agreed by the Council, may grant these representatives observer status for the private business of Council.

Meetings of Council

Meetings of the Council will be called by the Chief Executive and there will be at least three ordinary meetings in every calendar year. These meeting will be held in-person or virtually. A schedule of meetings will be made available to all members ensuring significant advance notice.

Papers for the Council meetings will be made available to members, as far as possible, fourteen calendar days before a meeting is held.

The Chairperson will Chair every meeting of the Council. Should the Chairperson be unavoidably unavailable, the Corporate Governance Officer will contact either the Chairperson of the EWC’s Registration and Regulation Committee or the EWC’s Audit and Scrutiny to preside over the meeting in the first instance. In the event that both are unavailable, any other member of the Council may be approached to Chair the meeting.

A register of attendance shall be maintained by the Corporate Governance Officer and attendance and apologies will be recorded in the minutes of both Council and Committee meetings. A record of members’ attendance at meetings will be published in the EWC’s Annual Report each year.

The Chairperson may call a special meeting of Council at any time. The Chief Executive shall, except in cases of urgency, send the summons to such a special meeting to each member at least seven calendar days before the meeting.

The Chairperson may call a special meeting of the Council on the written request of the majority of the members of the Council. The Chief Executive shall, except in cases of urgency, send the details of the meeting at least seven calendar days before a meeting.

Should an urgent matter requiring the approval of Council arise where a special meeting would not be practical or proportionate, members may be contacted via email and asked to comment on and/or approve the necessary urgent action. As with all Council business, an approval will be actioned on a majority vote. As long as reasonable time is given to respond, should a Council member choose not to respond, it will be assumed that they have no objection to the proposal. A record of any business transacted in this manner will be maintained by the Corporate Governance Officer in line with all other Council documentation.

Record of proceedings

Draft minutes shall be prepared of each Council meeting and circulated to the Chairperson as soon as possible for comment.

The draft minutes of each Council meeting shall be embargoed until they have been approved by Council.

The bilingual minutes of any public meeting of the Council shall be placed on the Council’s website as soon as possible once ratified.

Key Documents of the EWC

A suite of corporate documents is reviewed and presented to Council for approval biennially. The Council’s suite of Plans is reviewed and approved by Council annually. Council members feed into the review of the suite of Planning documents with an annual Planning session. All key corporate and Planning documents are considered by the Executive Committee in the first instance and are subsequently presented to Council for approval upon the Committee’s recommendation.

Pecuniary interests of members in contracts and other matters

The conduct of members will be governed by a Code of Conduct and Best Practice for Members reviewed biennially and agreed by the Council.

On taking office, members of the Council agree to declare any interests, which are relevant, or may be construed to be relevant, to their work as a member of the Council. These will be recorded in the Register of Members’ Interests. Members are also required to register any changes to those interests within four weeks of the change taking place. The Register of Members’ Interests is published on the Council’s website.

Members of the Council also agree not to receive any gift, hospitality or other material benefit or advantage in their capacity as a Council member as detailed in the Code of Conduct and Best Practice for Members. Anything offered or received because it could not logistically be refused must be declared and recorded.

Members of the Council agree to declare as soon as practicable after a meeting begins if they have an interest, pecuniary or otherwise, in a matter under consideration. If the interest is a prejudicial interest, the member shall withdraw from the meeting during the Council’s discussion or determination of that matter. Such withdrawal and the nature of interest shall be recorded in the minutes.

The responsibility for declaring interests rests with members alone.

Pecuniary interests of officers in contracts

The conduct of Council officers will be governed by a Code of Conduct for EWC employees.

Inspection of documents

Papers and minutes of Council and Committee meetings may be inspected in line with the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the General Data Protection Regulations (2018).

Inspection of land, premises or similar

Unless specifically authorised to do so by the Council or a Committee, a member of the Council shall not inspect any land or premises which the Council have the right or duty to inspect or enter upon, or issue any order respecting any works which are being carried out by or on behalf of the Council.

Variation and revocation of Standing Orders

Any motion to vary or revoke these Standing Orders shall when proposed and seconded stand adjourned to the next ordinary meeting of the Council.

Suspension of Standing Orders

Any of the preceding Standing Orders may be suspended so far as regards any business at the meeting where its suspension is moved, but shall not be suspended unless at least two thirds of the Council’s members are present.

Section II – The Conduct of Meetings

General

Any power or duty assigned to the Chairperson in relation to the conduct of a meeting may be exercised by the person presiding at the meeting.

Where reasonably possible and not otherwise provided, these Standing Orders shall apply to Committees of the Council as they are applied to the Council.

The Council reserves to itself the exercise of its powers for:

the approval of major policy documents and other matters of general policy or principle which the Council may from time to time declare a matter for their decision;

to make, revoke or amend Standing Orders;

to make arrangements for the discharge of the Council’s functions by Committees.

The Council will normally discuss the following:

Matters of relevance to the EWC’s statutory functions;

Work undertaken on behalf of the Welsh Government under terms and contracts of grant or grant-in-aid;

Work undertaken on a commercial basis;

Matters relating to the governance of the EWC including its suite of planning documents, governance framework, finance and audit and obligations under the public sector equality duty and Welsh language standards.

Quorum

No business shall be transacted at a meeting of the Council or a Committee of the Council unless at least half of sitting Council members or at least two members of the Committee are present.

A meeting may be conducted remotely and all participating members will be deemed to be present and counted in the quorum.

If during any meeting, the Chairperson, after counting the number of persons present declares that there is no quorum present, the meeting shall stand adjourned or issues may be discussed but no decisions may be made.

The consideration of any business not transacted shall be adjourned to a date to be agreed.

Where an immediate decision is required, the Chairperson may proceed with any business, although this shall not apply with the Audit and Scrutiny Committee.

Order of business

The order of business at meetings of the Council will usually be:

to receive any communications the Chairperson may desire to lay before the Council;

to receive any declarations of interest;

to receive and approve as a correct record, the minutes of the previous meeting of the Council, and to consider matters arising;

to receive and consider reports or minutes of Committees;

to receive and consider reports from officers of the Council;

to consider notices of motion in the order in which they have been received;

to consider any other business provided 72 hours’ notice has been given to the Chief Executive;

private business.

The Chairperson may choose to vary the order of business at any time in consideration of urgent matters or general practicalities.

The Chair will:

maintain order and ensure that all members have sufficient opportunity to express their views on the matters under discussion;

determine all matters of order, procedure and relevancy;

determine in which order those present should speak; and

determine whether or not a vote is required and how it is to be carried out.

Notices of motion must be sent to the Chief Executive at least 21 calendar days prior to the meeting taking place.

Rules of debate

A member shall direct their speech to the question and discussion or to an explanation or to a question of order.

Any amendments shall not have the effect of introducing a new proposal into or negating the motion before the Council.

A member may raise a point of order and shall be entitled to be heard forthwith. A point of order shall relate only to a breach of a Standing Order or statutory provision and the member shall specify the Standing Order or statutory provision and the way in which they consider it has been broken.

The ruling of the Chairperson on a point of order shall not be open to discussion.

Where there is a need for a vote on an issue or motion the Chairperson will invite members to vote via a show of hands. In the event of a tied vote, the Chairperson will have the casting vote. A record of the vote will be minuted.

Public access to meetings

The public will be notified of the dates of Council meetings via the Council’s website.

Meetings of the Council will be open to the general public; however, should any confidential or sensitive matters form part of the business to be transacted, the Council may wish for these to be discussed in private session. Private business will normally be heard after the public business.

Copies of Council agendas and papers (other than those in private session) are available to the general public on request.

Committee meetings are not open to the general public.

Language of meetings and papers

Use of the Welsh language between Council members is encouraged and respected. Council meetings will be conducted bilingually with the use of simultaneous translation services.

Council agendas and minutes will be bilingual. Council papers will usually be in English.

Circulation of papers

The Council will provide copies of its public session papers to the UK and Ireland Teaching Councils, where such organisations exist.

Disorderly conduct by a member

If, at a meeting, any member of the Council, in the opinion of the presiding Chairperson, is guilty of misconduct by persistently disregarding the rules of the Chairperson, or by behaving irregularly, improperly or offensively, or by wilfully obstructing the business of the Council, a member may move “that the member named be no further heard” or “that the member named leave the meeting” and the motion, if seconded, shall be put and determined without discussion.

Section III – Committees and the Delegation of Functions

Appointment of Committees and sub-committees and powers to delegate

Immediately following the first meeting of a new Council, the Chairperson (whether continuing or interim as per the System for Election of Council Chairperson) will work with the Corporate Governance Officer to allocate members to sit on Committees. This will include the Council’s standing committees and their Chairpersons as relevant and the Performance Review Committee. Two Council members will also be named as the EWC’s nominated Whistleblowing contacts (see EWC Whistleblowing Policy). Allocations will take into account members’ preferences and specific skillsets whilst maintaining a proportionate balance between new and reappointed members to ensure continuity with the Council’s work.

Committees of the Council shall have a member of the Council as Chairperson.

The Chairperson of the Council shall be the Chairperson of the Executive Committee. The Chairpersons of the Council’s other standing Committees will be decided as per the process outlined at paragraph 64.

The Council may arrange for the discharge of its functions in relation to any particular matter by a Committee appointed for that purpose, or the Chairperson or the Chief Executive. Every Committee may arrange for the discharge of any of its functions by a sub-committee of the Committee, or the Chairperson or the Chief Executive.

Every Committee arranging to discharge any function shall define the terms of reference of such arrangements including where the Committee has delegated powers and the extent (if any) to which decision making policy is being delegated.

The Council may make such arrangements as it thinks fit for the delegation of any of its powers to the Chairperson, or the Chief Executive. Provided that the Chairperson or the Chief Executive are hereby authorised, in those instances where it is not possible to call a meeting, that they may take any necessary action of whatsoever nature or kind, in the interest of the Council, exercising the powers contained in the Education (Wales) Act 2014 (as amended). The process involved in entering into any financial agreements is set out in the EWC’s Financial Control Procedures (FCP). This is in addition to the general power and duty on the Chairperson and Chief Executive to take such action as is necessary in the best interest of the Council administering its relevant work.

Meetings of Committees

Meetings of Committees will be called by the Chief Executive and there will normally be at least three meetings of each Committee in every calendar year. The schedule of meetings will be communicated to members giving significant advance notice.

Papers for Committee meetings will be made available to members at least seven calendar days before a meeting is to be held.

The Chairperson of the relevant Committee, following discussion with the Chairperson of Council, may call a special meeting of that Committee. The Chief Executive shall, except in cases of urgency, send the summons to such a special meeting to each member at least seven calendar days before the meeting.

Should the Committee Chairperson give apologies in advance of the meeting, the Corporate Governance Officer will approach another member of the Committee and ask them to Chair the meeting.

Record of proceedings

Draft minutes shall be prepared of each Committee meeting and circulated to the Chairperson of the relevant Committee as soon as possible for comment.

Draft Committee minutes will be reported to Council but presented to the relevant Committee for approval.

Limitations on delegations to Committees

Arrangements for the discharge of functions by Committees shall be subject to:

the observance of the Standing Orders;

the exercise of power in the name of the Council;

Committees reporting on their activities at the next convenient meeting of the Council, with recommendations to the Council on matters reserved to the Council.

Membership of Committees

Members will normally serve on Committees for up to four years. Members may make a request to the Chief Executive and / or Council Chairperson to transfer to another Committee. This request will be subject to vacancies existing on other Committees.

Attendance of members at Committees of which they are not members

Any member of the Council shall be at liberty to attend any meeting of any Committee of which they are not a member but cannot take part in the proceedings of that Committee unless the member has obtained the previous consent of the presiding Chairperson. Members are asked to inform the Corporate Governance Officer who will inform the Council Chairperson and Chief Executive.

Terms of reference and delegation to Committees

The following (together with such additional or other Committees as may from time to time be determined) shall be the Committees of the Council, and shall consist of the number of members as the Council may from time to time determine.

Executive Committee

The Committee, acting with delegated powers, will be responsible for:

maintaining and reviewing a suite of governance documents including the Council’s Standing Orders and the Code of Conduct and Best Practice for Members;

shaping and scrutinising the Council’s suite of plans and monitoring their performance throughout the year;

overseeing the strategic progress and operational delivery of a number of the Council’s statutory functions;

any capital projects in excess of £100,000;

approving any major items of expenditure in excess of £100,000 in addition to those set out in the Operational Plan;

overseeing the Council’s statutory schemes, for example in relation to Equality & Diversity and Welsh Language and the EWC’s compliance with the Public Sector Equality Duty;

overseeing work undertaken under terms and conditions of grant for the Welsh Government;

collaboratively working with EWC officers in developing responses to Welsh Government and other stakeholders’ consultations and calls for evidence;

considering any other matters where requested to do so by the Council

The Committee is accountable to the Council and will report by means of its minutes, which will normally be presented by the Chief Executive.

The Committee will consist of the Chairperson of the Council and up to four other members of the Council. The Chief Executive, senior Council officers and the EWC’s Corporate Governance Officer will normally attend the meetings.

Audit & Scrutiny Committee

The Committee, acting with delegated powers, will be responsible for:

overseeing and scrutinising the Council’s financial position;

considering all relevant reports by the Auditor General for Wales including reports on the Council’s accounts, achievements of value for money and the response to any management letters;

considering all relevant reports by the Internal Audit function including the annual and long-term internal audit programme and individual audit reports;

reviewing the effectiveness of the body’s internal control system established to ensure that the aims, objectives and key performance targets of the organisation are achieved in the most economic and effective manner;

commenting on the performance of internal and external auditors;

obtaining assurance that procurements have been awarded correctly and in line with the Council’s policies and procedures;

overseeing the Council’s Risk Management Policy, Whistleblowing Policy and IT Security Policy;

overseeing the Council’s cybersecurity and the measures in place to ensure its effectiveness;

overseeing the Council’s Financial Control Procedures and its administration;

reviewing the operation of the Code of Conduct and Best Practice for Members;

agreeing the procedure of appointing a lay member to the Committee;

considering any other matters where requested to do so by the Council.

The Committee is accountable to the Council and will report by means of its minutes, which will normally be presented by the Committee’s Chairperson.

Membership and attendance

The Chairperson of the Committee shall be a member of the Council other than the Council’s Chairperson. The Committee will consist of four members of Council and at least one lay member.

Representatives from both Audit Wales and the Council’s appointed internal auditors may attend all Audit & Scrutiny Committees in an advisory capacity only.

The Chief Executive, Director of Finance and Corporate Services, the EWC’s Finance Manager and the EWC’s Corporate Governance Officer will normally attend the meetings.

The Committee may ask non-members to withdraw to facilitate open discussion of particular matters.

Audit and Scrutiny Committee lay member

As required under paragraph 20 of Schedule 1 of the Education (Wales) Act 2014 (as amended), the Committee must have one lay member (defined as any person other than a member or an employee of the Council).

Unlike Council member appointments, the EWC is responsible for recruiting a lay member to sit on the Audit and Scrutiny Committee.

The Audit and Scrutiny Committee will discuss and approve the proposal to appoint a new lay member prior to the recruitment process commencing. The Council will advertise for the role through targeted recruitment to ensure that any interested parties have the relevant expertise and qualifications.

EWC officers may seek potential candidates with the relevant financial background and experience with assistance from its internal auditors. Anyone eligible who is interested in applying for the role is required to complete the application process.

The Chief Executive, Chairperson of Council, Director of Finance and Corporate Services and Corporate Governance Officer will jointly discuss all applications received and make a decision on offering an appointment. The outcome of the process will be reported to the Audit and Scrutiny Committee.

As is the case with Council members, the Audit and Scrutiny Committee lay member is appointed for a four-year term. The lay member will also undertake induction training prior to commencing their role.

Access

The representative of Internal Audit and of Audit Wales will have free and confidential access to the Chairperson of the Audit & Scrutiny Committee.

Frequency of Meetings

The Audit & Scrutiny Committee will meet at least three times a year. The Chairperson of the Committee may convene additional meetings if deemed necessary.

In addition to the normal programme of Audit & Scrutiny Committee meetings determined by the Council, the representative of Audit Wales may request a meeting if they consider one necessary.

The Director of Finance and Corporate Services may suggest the Audit and Scrutiny Committee Chairperson’s attendance to any relevant public sector training events in Wales as and when appropriate.

Authority

The Audit & Scrutiny Committee is authorised by the Council to investigate any activity within its terms of reference, and to seek any information it requires from Council officers, who are requested to co-operate with the Committee in the conduct of its enquiries.

Information requirements

The Audit & Scrutiny Committee will be provided, as appropriate, with:

Audit Wales’ Audit plan and management letter;

reports from the internal auditors progress reports, audit reports, annual report and accounts and the internal audit strategy;

reports on any proposals to tender for audit functions;

drafts of the annual report and accounts;

the annual governance statement;

a review of the Audit and Scrutiny Committee’s year;

reports on procurement and other financial matters;

reports summarising any significant changes to the organisation’s Risk Register;

regular assurance of the Council’s cybersecurity including and annual review of Council’s IT services;

assurance of the Council’s IT Security policy and Whistleblowing policy;

documentation relating to any whistleblowing incidents;

proposals regarding the Audit and Scrutiny Committee’s lay member;

reports on freedom of information and data protection.

In addition, the Committee shall be provided with such papers as are appropriate for it properly to fulfil its functions, as listed in paragraph 100 above.

Registration & Regulation Committee

103. The Committee, acting with delegated powers, will be responsible for:

overseeing the registration process and maintenance of an accurate Register;

overseeing the development and maintenance of the EWC Registration Database including the security of and access to the data on the Register;

overseeing the administration of the award of Qualified Teacher Status and the issue of Induction certificates;

overseeing the Council’s data work including the annual education workforce statistics;

keeping under review the Code of Professional Conduct and Practice;

keeping under review the Council’s Disciplinary Procedures and Rules, Registration Rules and Guidance and Procedure for the Hearing of Induction Appeals;

overseeing the publication of the Council’s annual Fitness to Practise Report;

considering emerging issues with regard to Council’s Fitness to Practise work;

overseeing the accreditation and monitoring of ITE programmes in Wales;

considering any other matters where requested to do so by the Council.

104. The Committee is accountable to the Council and will report by means of its minutes, which will normally be presented by the Committee’s Chairperson.

The Committee will consist of a Chairperson who shall not be the Chairperson of Council, and up to four other members of the Council. The Chief Executive, Director of Regulation and the EWC’s Corporate Governance Officer will normally attend the meetings.

Performance Review Committee

The Committee consists of the Chairperson of Council and two other members of Council appointed as outlined at paragraph 64.

The pay of the Chief Executive is based on an incremental salary scale, with incremental progression subject to achieving satisfactory performance in the year. The details of this are outlined in the Council’s ‘Chief Executive: Pay Arrangements Scheme Framework’.

The review will usually happen annually in April, and performance is assessed and signed by the Chairperson of Council, following a self-appraisal by the post holder.

The overall assessment of performance is then considered by the Performance Review Committee set up for the purpose, who will, if appropriate, confirm the incremental pay award.

In making its decision, the Committee will administer its appraisal primarily against the following criteria:

The quality of advice to the Council especially on strategic issues;

Effective resource allocation and monitoring of the Council's performance against operational plan objectives, including effectiveness in accounting for any Welsh Government grant funding and grant-in-aid;

Team leadership and organizational skills;

Credible public presentation of the Council's work and decisions.

The Committee is also responsible for agreeing the Chief Executive's annual objectives for the following year (as drafted by the Chief Executive).

The Committee will meet on an annual basis. It is intended that the Chief Executive’s review period runs conterminous with the operational year, and so an incremental date of 1st April. In the event of a new appointment to the Chief Executive post, the incremental date will be determined by the start date of the appointee.

Fitness to Practise Committees and Induction Appeal Committees

Statutory arrangements governing the Council’s responsibilities in determining a person’s suitability to be registered and fitness to practise are set out in the Education Wales (Act) 2014 (as amended) and related Regulations. They cover the Council’s responsibilities for dealing with:

allegations of professional misconduct, incompetence or where a registrant has been convicted of a relevant offence;

imposition of Interim Suspension Orders (ISOs);

determining whether an applicant for registration is suitable or not;

appeals by newly qualified school teachers who fail assessment against the end of induction standards.

The Council’s procedures and rules for dealing with its responsibilities are set out in the relevant documents:

Disciplinary Procedures and Rules;

Registration Rules;

Guidance and Procedures for the Hearing of Induction Appeals.

ITE Accreditation Board

Statutory arrangements governing the Council’s responsibilities for accrediting ITE programmes are set out in the Education (Wales) Act 2014 (as amended) and related Regulations. They cover the Council’s responsibilities for dealing with:

Accrediting ITE programmes;

Monitoring compliance of ITE programmes against the Welsh Government’s Criteria for the accreditation of initial teacher education programmes in Wales (The Criteria);

Withdrawing accreditation of ITE programmes that are non-compliant with The Criteria;

Charging fees.

The Council’s procedures for dealing with its ITE accreditation responsibilities are set out in relevant documents.

Section IV – Financial Control

General

This section of the Standing Orders is supplemented by the detailed internal Financial Control Procedures (FCP), agreed by the Chairperson and Chief Executive.

Financial Administration

The Executive Committee will be responsible for overseeing the Council’s finances. The Audit and Scrutiny Committee is responsible for overseeing and scrutinising the Council’s systems and procedures, and for ensuring the Council achieves quality and value for money in its activities.

Performance reports will be brought before the Executive Committee of the Council. Reports on significant virement of expenditure will be brought to the Executive Committee and Audit and Scrutiny Committee.

The accounts will be subject to audit by Audit Wales, and this will be arranged as soon as practicable after the end of the financial year on 31 March. The annual accounts will be presented to the Senedd by the 31 August following the end of the financial year.

Annual Reports

The Council must report annually the discharge of its functions for each financial year, by the 30 November. The report must be submitted to Welsh Ministers who then lay a copy before the Senedd.

Audit

An internal audit function shall be arranged to carry out an examination of accounting, financial and other operations of the Council. This will include an independent review and appraisal of systems and procedures, both financial and non-financial, in operation to ensure they accord with this part of Standing Orders and accord with best practice.

Procurement of goods and services

The process of acquisition by the Council of goods, services, consultancies or research from external firms, organisations or individuals will:

be undertaken in a manner that is ethical, legal, accountable and compliant with World Trade Organisation’s Government Procurement Agreement limits;

targeted towards continuing improvements in value for money, based on the whole life cost and quality of goods and services;

be compliant with the purchasing procedures of the Council as detailed in the internal Financial Control Procedures. This compliance will ensure that all goods and services over a certain threshold are procured via competitive tender. The form of competition must be appropriate to the value and complexity of the goods and services to be acquired.

Authorisation of payments

Authorisation to make payments out of the bank accounts of the Council is set out in the Financial Control Procedures.

Clear written instructions are contained within the internal Financial Control Procedures as to the EWC officers empowered to authorise expenditure, and the points which should be checked before authorisation is given.

Income

The Director of Finance and Corporate Services is responsible for ensuring that adequate machinery exists for the collection and bringing to account of all receipts. Receipts will include grant funding and grant-in-aid, registration fees, bank interest and other miscellaneous income.

Assets

The internal Financial Control Procedures contains detailed instructions as to the procurement, safeguarding and disposal of assets, both tangible and intangible