Islington Council's Audit and Risk Committee has approved a new Code of Corporate Governance, a move that has prompted discussion about the influence of private sector guidance on local authority operations.
The committee met on Thursday, March 19, 2026, to review and endorse the proposed code, which is based on the seven principles outlined in the CIPFA/SOLACE guidance 'Delivering Good Governance in Local Government'. This marks a continuation of the council's reliance on frameworks from these organisations, though the principle of outsourcing policy frameworks to private entities has raised concerns.
Councillor Paul Convery, Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee, voiced apprehension about the council leaning towards frameworks from CIPFA and SOLACE, describing them as private organisations. He expressed concern about outsourcing some of our policy framework here to what are essentially private organisations
and noted that there are elements of both CIPFA and SOLACE which are essentially money-making bits of the organisations.
Councillor Convery suggested that the Local Government Association (LGA) might be a more appropriate body to lead on such frameworks, as it is an accountable body as well I mean ultimately to ministers and to parliament whereas... they are private entities.
He views the product as fine but the principle seems to me to be a little bit some a little bit risky.
Paul Clarke, Acting Corporate Director of Resources, defended the use of CIPFA and SOLACE, explaining that these organisations are at the forefront of developing governance guidance. He stated that CIPFA don't necessarily though some things they absolutely do position themselves from a commercial point of view as advisers on certain things for their policy side of things,
but stressed that the guidance provided is entirely kind of charitable to the progressive aim of the sector so it is not the commercial arm of the organisation that is putting forward this for commercial gain it is for the good of the sector.
Mr. Clarke added that CIPFA and SOLACE are seen as the vanguard of this, because that they spend a lot of time doing a lot of the thinking pulling together the collective thoughts and contributions from a wider array of people.
He also noted that the LGA also lean into those organisations.
The new code aims to ensure the council operates effectively, honestly, and accountably, setting out the standards for good governance. It details how the council upholds principles such as integrity, openness, stakeholder engagement, and risk management. The full code can be found in the LBI Local Code of Corporate Governance 2025-26.
Further details regarding the meeting, including the agenda and public reports pack, can be accessed via the Audit and Risk Committee documents.
