Water Management Alliance

Governance

Accountability

The Board is democratically accountable to those that pay for the service in its Drainage District. Consequently all money that we raise to do work in our Drainage District is spent actually doing work in the Drainage District. All members are bound by the Members Code of Conduct.

Elected Members

The number of elected members is set out in the constitution. The number of elected members as compared to the number of appointed members that each constituent Council is entitled to appoint depends upon the proportion of expenditure that is paid in total by the occupiers of agricultural land, as compared with what is paid by the constituent Councils. Elections for membership of the Board are held every 3 years, so if you’re not happy with our performance you have the opportunity to do something about it, either by exercising your vote as a ratepayer or standing for election yourself. For more information please visit our Elections webpage.

Appointed Members

The number of members that each constituent Council is entitled to appoint is determined by the Board every 3 years, in accordance with the Land Drainage Act 1991. The Councils cannot just appoint anyone: they must appoint persons who have relevant knowledge or experience and have shown capacity in such matters. The Board may not approve the appointment of persons that do not fulfil this legal requirement, so check out our guidance for Local Authorities when making appointments to IDBs. It is important to note that the appointed members do not represent the Councils themselves. As members of the Board they are duty bound to consider all proposals in the context of what is in the best interest of the Board, which may be different to what is in the best interest of their Council.

Transparency

The Board make the key decisions and have reserved those matters that only it can take. Such decisions are made at Board meetings which take place at least 4 times a year, in accordance with the Standing Orders. Board meetings are public meetings at which anyone can attend. All other decisions have been delegated by the Board to its Chairman’s Committee and to the Chief Executive Officer, subject to compliance with the Financial Regulations and other policies. The Board has put in place a number of plans, policies and procedures to ensure best value, probity, propriety and transparency in the decision making process. The scheme of delegation together with such plans, policies and procedures can all be viewed and downloaded from the Members Area of our website.

Standard policies required by the Audit Commission are as follows:

Risk Management Strategy and Policy

Whistle blowing Policy

Anti Fraud and Corruption Policy

Data Protection Policy

Freedom of Information Publication Scheme

Independent Assurance

The Audit Commission appoints an External Auditor each year to audit the Board’s Financial Statements and governance arrangements. The External Auditor reports directly to the Board and therefore provides independent assurance to the Board and its stakeholders that governance arrangements are sufficiently robust. Furthermore the Internal Auditor checks that the Board’s management team are fully complying with these arrangements. The Board also participates in the National Fraud Initiative as administered by the Audit Commission to help prevent and detect fraud.

PHIL CAMAMILE

CHIEF EXECUTIVE