Commission sets new governance standard for public services

A new standard for the governance of public services is published today. For the first time, half a million people who serve on governing bodies in the UK will have a single, common standard (comparable to the private sector's Combined Code) that clarifies expectations of their roles and responsibilities.

Following extensive research and consultation, the Independent Commission on Good Governance in Public Services has produced a Good Governance Standard for Public Services.

Background
Over 450,000 people in the UK hold governance positions (excluding local government councillors). They are governors in schools, hospitals, police authorities, housing associations and national public bodies. Their duty is to: · help formulate strategy;

steward the expenditure of public money;

ensure probity and transparency; and

appoint, monitor and support top management.
Good governance is crucial for effective public services and improved social outcomes.

Good governance is crucial for effective public services and improved social outcomes.

An independent inquiry
The Office for Public Management (OPM) and the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA), with funding from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, established an independent Commission to develop a common standard of good governance for all public services.

The Commission comprised a small group of eminent leaders from the public, voluntary and private sectors, who:

identified the main issues and any related research that was needed;

considered submissions of evidence; and

constructed a common standard for good governance in public services.

The Commission was chaired by Sir Alan Langlands, Principal and Vice Chancellor of the University of Dundee and former Chief Executive of the National Health Service.

Read Press Release.

See comments on publication of full report and the full Report in pdf format.

In the private sector, governance has been strengthened significantly through the Cadbury, Greenbury and Higgs reports. These resulted in The Combined Code of Corporate Governance, dated July, 2003, (see in pdf format).