Dartmoor National Park Authority

Governance

Every local government body operates through a governance framework which brings together an underlying set of legislative requirements, governance principles and management processes. Good governance leads to good management, good performance, good stewardship of public money, good public engagement and, ultimately, good outcomes from the services provided. The Authority operates within a Corporate Governance Framework which ensures accountability to its users, stakeholders and the wider community to which it relates. It comprises the systems and processes, cultures and values by which decisions are made and functions undertaken to deliver the purposes and duties of the organisation.

Our Local Code of Corporate Governance (PDF Help 45Kb) was approved by the Authority in December 2009.

Standing Orders

Standing Orders regulate the proceedings, meetings and business of the Authority and its Committees. The Authority's Standing Orders (PDF Help 179Kb) and Appendices (PDF Help 271Kb) were adopted in May 2007 and have been revised a number of times since that date. The most recent revision was approved on 6 November 2009.

Scheme of Delegation

The Authority’s Scheme of Delegation (PDF Help 98Kb) is the framework for decision-making and accountability between meetings of the full Authority.  It contains detailed provisions on the powers and responsibilities delegated to committees and officers of the Authority.  The Scheme was adopted in May 2007 and was revised in August 2007, June 2008 and April 2010.

Financial Regulations and Procurement

The Local Government Act 1972 directs that local government bodies shall make arrangements for the proper administration of their financial affairs, and that some of their officers shall be responsible for the administration of those affairs. To conduct its business efficiently, a local authority needs to ensure that it has sound financial management policies in place and that they are adhered to.

Part of this process is the establishment of Financial Regulations (PDF Help 29kb) that set out the financial policies of the Authority. Financial Regulations provide a framework for the management of the Authority's financial affairs and apply to every Member and officer of the Authority and anyone acting on its behalf.

Procurement

The term “procurement” relates to the process of acquiring goods, services and works, from pens to service delivery partnerships, from bricks to new buildings - from the initial concept through to the end of the useful life of the asset or service contract.  Procurement ranges from the negotiation of corporate contracts for the supply of routine goods and services through to the more complex partnership arrangements such as Public/Private Partnerships (PPP), joint commissioning with other third sector and public sector organisations and construction projects.

Effective procurement is crucial to achieve continuous improvement and to secure value for money in public services. It is important to ensure that procurement decisions are legal, ethical, in accordance with the policies and procedures of the Authority and that consideration is given to the impact on the economic, social and environmental well being of the communities within the National Park.

Recent government announcements suggest that the Authority will soon be required to publish on its website details of all procurement decisions in excess of £500.

Instructions relating to Procurement

The objective of these Instructions is to ensure that the Authority's procurement procedures are robust and effective while remaining transparent and in accordance with recognised good practice. The issue of any Order and the entry into any contract shall at all times be subject to these Instructions, and the Standing Orders, Financial Regulations and Financial Procedures of the Authority.

Instructions relating to procurement including orders contracts and tenders (PDF Help 174Kb)

The Authority, along with its partners, is committed to ensuring that services are delivered in a way that protects the quality of the environment and minimises any adverse impact on community well being. The Authority recognises that procurement can be integral in delivering more sustainable outcomes for the National Park. To achieve this it is necessary to ensure that environmental and broader sustainability considerations are taken into account throughout the procurement process, along with the use of local suppliers where possible.

Devon Procurement Partnership (DPP)

The main aim of the partnership is collaboration between procurement representatives from Devon public sector organisations (particularly local authorities) with a view to maximising the benefits of Devon’s spend with external suppliers. Additionally DPP has a number of complimentary strategic objectives based around sustainability, local economic development and continuous improvement. The aims and objectives of the group are outlined within the Terms of Reference (PDF Help 30Kb)

The majority of local authorities within Devon are currently represented on the partnership together with Devon & Cornwall Police, Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue, University of Exeter, the Met Office and Dartmoor National Park Authority.

National Fraud Initiative

Dartmoor National Park Authority is required by law to protect the public funds it administers. It may share information provided to it with other bodies responsible for auditing or administering public funds, in order to prevent and detect fraud (for more information visit the National Fraud Initiative page).

Page updated 24 June 2010