Governance
The National Local Growth Assurance Framework sets out the governance arrangements for Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs). The Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire (SSLEP) Assurance Framework outlines in detail the operational and structural arrangements by which we make decisions and are held to account.
Key elements of our Assurance Framework are summarised below, the full document is published above and relevant sections can be linked to from the contents page.
Decision Making
The SSLEP’s primary decision-making body is the Company Executive Board, which delegates certain powers to various appointed sub-groups. Details of our decision making processes and terms of reference for our sub-groups are contained in our Constitution.
When considering projects and programmes for funding we do so in accordance with our project prioritisation and business case process which is found at section 8 of our Assurance Framework. We publish business cases for City Deal and Local Growth Deal funding and their independent assessments in the Publication Library Information about our recent Getting Building Fund allocations is also published.
We strive to be open and transparent in our decision making, you can read our policy on report publication here. SSLEP Report Publication Scheme
Audit and Accounts
Our finances are managed by Staffordshire County Council as the Accountable Body. This ensures that all funding is managed in accordance with good practice and audited each year. Annual audits are published below.
Each July, we publish Annual Accounts which set out how the LEP has invested its resources. In addition we publish an Annual Report, which sets out a full picture of the LEP’s activities over the previous year. Both publications can be found here.
Scrutiny
We are scrutinised annually by a joint meeting of the Staffordshire County Council and Stoke-on-Trent City Council scrutiny committees, with attendees from the District and Borough Councils within our area.
Declarations of Interest & Codes of Conduct
Each Board Member is required to complete and sign a Declaration of Interests form before they can participate in a board meeting, these are published below. Members are required to advise the secretariat of any changes, but these are reviewed/completed bi-annually regardless. LEP staff members are required to complete this form, although this does not need publishing. A Code of Conduct form is also completed once by Board Members, these are retained by the secretariat. Code of Conduct for LEP Board Members.pdf
Gifts and Hospitality
All Board Members are required to declare any offers of gifts and hospitality made to or accepted by themselves. These may be offered to an individual or the LEP as an organisation. The relevant policy and the register are available here:
SSLEP Gifts and Hospitality Policy
SSLEP Register of Gifts and Hospitality
Complaints
We strive to resolve complaints at an early stage, in line with our Enquiries and Complaints Procedure (link). .Our Whistleblowing Policy covers situations where an individual who has concerns about a danger, risk, contravention of rules or illegality provides useful information to address this. Our policy on GDPR and information sharing can be found here: SSLEP Privacy Policy.
Remuneration and Expenses
Our policy on LEP Board Director and officer remuneration and expenses can be found in our Assurance Framework (link) A summary of remuneration and expenses paid to Board Members can be found here: Summary of Remuneration Expenses Paid to LEP Board Members
Working with Local Authorities
All Stoke and Staffordshire local authorities are members of the SSLEP. The Leaders of Stoke-on-Trent City Council and Staffordshire County Council along with four representative from the Borough / District Councils sit on the LEP’s Executive Board. Further detail of how we work together can be found within our Constitution.
Additional Publications
Audit
Annual Performance Review Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire LEP Letter
Annual Performance Review Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire APR Minutes 2019
CLGU Deep Dive Report March 2019
CLGU Desk Top Audit National Assurance Framework Compliance May 2019
External Governance Audit report 2018-19
Final SSLEP Mid Year Review Note 230919
SSLEP Governance Assurance Statement 2019-20
Declarations of interest
Executive Board Members
Mohammed Ahmed
Hannah Ault
Liz Barnes
Caroline Brown
Sinead Butters
Emma Catterall
James Leavesley (Vice Chair)
Prof. Trevor McMillan
Alun Rogers (Chair)
Sara Williams
Cllr George Allen
Cllr Abi Brown
Cllr Patrick Farrington
Cllr Jeremy Oates
Cllr Simon Tagg
Cllr Alan White
Alternates for Board Members
Dr Mark Bacon
Cllr Janine Bridges
Cllr Brian Edwards
Martin Jones
Cllr Doug Pullen
Cllr Sybil Ralphs
Secretariat
Simon Ablewhite
Mark Parkinson
Officers advising operational groups
John Broad
Tony McGovern
Jon Rouse
Previous Board Members
Cllr Philip Atkins
Paul Farmer
Cllr Mark Winnington