The Guidance on Board Effectiveness is one of a suite of guidance notes issued by the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) to assist companies in applying the principles of the UK Corporate Governance Code. It replaces Good Practice Suggestions from the Higgs Report (known as the Higgs Guidance), which was last issued in 2006.
This guidance relates primarily to Sections A and B of the Code on the leadership and effectiveness of the board. As with the separate guidance notes on audit committees and internal control, the new guidance is not intended to be prescriptive. It does not set out the right way to apply the Code. Rather it is intended to stimulate boards thinking on how they can carry out their role most effectively.
Ultimately it is for individual boards to decide on the governance arrangements most appropriate to their circumstances, and interpret the Code and guidance accordingly.