Code of corporate governance

Following our corporate governance code of conduct will help us fulfil our commitment to improve the way we deal with customer concerns.

Public focus

We will publish and publicise an annual report by 31 December, presenting an objective and easily readable account of our activities, achievements, financial position and performance
We will publish and publicise an annual report by 30 June, setting out an objective and understandable account and assessment of current performance on service delivery, and plans to maintain and improve service quality. We will cooperate with appropriate organisations to ensure there is independent scrutiny of our financial and operational reporting processes
We will have in place arrangements designed to encourage individuals and groups from all sections of the community to engage with, contribute to and participate in our work. We will implement appropriate monitoring procedures to ensure the arrangements continue to run smoothly
We will have in place arrangements so complaints can be easily lodged and addressed
We will establish appropriate relationships with relevant parties on matters of mutual interest
We will conduct our business on an open basis, subject only to the requirements of appropriate levels of individual and commercial confidentiality
We will seek to provide safe, integrated, efficient and economic transport facilities that are in line with the priorities of all sections of society, established through consultation

The relationships between the corporate centre and the business units will be on an equitable basis:

There will be corporate ownership of policy decisions
The roles and responsibilities of Board members will be clearly documented
The roles and responsibilities of managers will be clearly documented
Our Board will meet on a regular basis with meetings open to the public, except where reasons of commercial or individual confidentiality require a meeting to be closed

We will ensure appropriate processes are in place to set out our strategic direction:

We will ensure we have a documented scheme of delegation that reserves appropriate responsibilities to the Board and provides managers with the powers necessary to conduct routine business
We will ensure that all activities are fully documented, appropriately authorised and carried out in a planned manner
We will ensure a senior manager is made responsible for all aspects of operational management
We will ensure that a senior manager is made responsible for ensuring that appropriate advice is given in all financial matters, for keeping proper financial records and accounts, and for maintaining an effective system of internal financial control
We will maintain proper records to ensure that the annual accounts show a true and fair view, and that expenditure has been properly authorised and allocated in an appropriate manner

We will maintain robust systems for identifying and evaluating all significant risks:

We will maintain an effective risk management system, including systems of internal control and an internal audit function
We will ensure that risk management systems, including systems of internal control and internal audit, are reviewed under our performance management system
We will ensure that our Board members are provided with any training needed to perform their role
We will ensure that our staff are competent to perform their roles
We will maintain an objective and professional relationship with our external auditors and statutory inspectors
Our annual report will contain an objective and understandable statement and assessment of the risk management system, including systems of internal control and internal audit and their effectiveness in practice

We will ensure we have a management structure that delivers safe, efficient, effective and economic services
We will maximise our resources and allocate them according to priorities
We will set targets for performance in the delivery of services on a sustainable basis
We will set targets for performance in the delivery of services to ensure equality for both staff and customers
We will have in place sound systems for providing management information for performance measurement purposes

We will monitor and report performance against agreed standards, and have comprehensive and understandable performance plans in place:

We will foster effective delivery relationships and partnerships with other public sector agencies, and the private and voluntary sectors

We will have in place formal codes of conduct which define the standards of personal behaviour to which individual Board members, staff and our agents are required to subscribe
We will have in place appropriate systems and processes to ensure that all codes of conduct are complied with
We will have in place arrangements and mechanisms to ensure that all codes of conduct continue to operate in practice, to ensure that Board members and employees are not influenced by prejudice, bias or conflicts of interest in dealing with stakeholders
Our operational procedures will be designed in conformity with appropriate ethical standards
We will have in place arrangements for whistleblowing that are accessible to all staff and contractors