The Local Government Association (LGA) and independent think-tank the Centre for Public Scrutiny (CfPS) have today launched a toolkit containing five practical steps to help councils reviewing their governance arrangements.

Following the introduction of the Localism Act in 2011, councils can now select or combine one of three main governance models – the leader and cabinet system, a mayoral system and a committee system.

The five-step guidance in the ‘thinking toolkit' helps councils' assess their current position and plan an approach; consider design principles; formulate a governance system in line with these principles; effect the change and review arrangements at the end of the first year.

‘When councils think about changing their governance, the issue can quickly become overpoliticised, or conversely can be treated as a purely technical exercise: neither are right,' said Jessica Crowe, executive director of the Centre for Public Scrutiny.

‘CfPS belives that political and organisational culture is more important than governance structures in determining how accountable, transparent and inclusive an organisation is,' Ms Crowe added.