Appendix B: Questions for members of
the public and their representatives to
ask if they want to assess and challenge
standards of governance
Organisations can also ask themselves these questions if they want to test their
openness and responsiveness to the public and their service users.
1. Good governance means focusing on the organisation’s purpose and
on outcomes for citizens and service users
u What is this organisation for?
u Can I easily fi nd a clear explanation of what this organisation is doing?
u Can I easily fi nd out about the quality of service provided to the public?
u What is being done to improve services?
u Can I easily fi nd out about the organisation’s funding and how it spends
its money?
2. Good governance means performing effectively in clearly defi ned
functions and roles
u Who is in charge of the organisation?
u How are they elected or appointed?
u At the top of the organisation, who is responsible for what?
3. Good governance means promoting values for the whole
organisation and demonstrating the values of good governance
through behaviour
u According to the organisation, what values guide its work?
u Does it follow these values in practice?
u What standards of behaviour should I expect?
u Do the senior people in the organisation put these standards of
behaviour into practice?
u Do they put into practice the ‘Nolan’ principles for people in public life
(selfl essness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and
leadership)?