Agenda item

This is the Monitoring Officer’s Annual Report to the Audit and Standards Advisory Committee for 2019. It provides an update on Member conduct issues, work of the Audit and Standards Advisory Committee, the Audit and Standards Committee and the Monitoring Officer during 2018 as well as the quarterly update on Gifts and Hospitality.

The Committee received the Monitoring Officer’s Annual Report that provided an update on Member conduct issues and the work of the Audit and Standards Advisory Committee, the Audit and Standards Committee and the Monitoring Officer during 2019.  Debra Norman (Director of Legal, HR, Audit and Investigations) in presenting the report gave an overview of the Committee’s work since 2019 and drew Members’ attention to the following points:

·                The plans being developed to undertake a recruitment process during the course of the year in relation to the vacant co-opted member positions on the Committee and also as the Independent Person current terms of offices came to an end.

·                During 2019, two complaints had been received against a councillor for alleged breaches of the Code of Conduct. Neither of these had been upheld for the following reasons; first complaint - there was no evidence of any breach of the Member’s Code of Conduct (Code); second complaint - it did not disclose any conduct which fell within the remit of the Code.

·                The requirement on members to register gifts and hospitality received in an official capacity worth an estimated value of at least £50, including a series of gifts and hospitality from the same person that add up to an estimated value of at least £50 in a municipal year.  Any gifts and hospitality registered by Members were published on the Council’s website and open to inspection at the Civic Centre, with the latest update attached at appendix A to the report.

·                Monitoring Officer Advice Notes (MOANs) continued to be issued to members.  During 2019 three MOANs were issued.  Appendix B to the report listed the MOANs issued since 2015, with copies available on the Member’s internal SharePoint portal.

·                The LGA were in the process of finalising the consultation questions for the draft Model Code of Conduct.  These would be more closely aligned to the current version that the Council already had in place. Officers were awaiting the consultation questions and would keep the Committee informed as to how the consultation progressed.

·                Mandatory training sessions for members continued to be provided annually. In addition, all other Members were invited to attend the sessions in accordance with the Members’ Code of Conduct.

In the ensuing discussions, Members asked as to whether there existed a Code of Conduct for senior officers and how the level of confidence in the complaints system had been assessed and evaluated.  Specific questions were asked about the timeline for recruitment of the co-opted members and Independent Persons, member training and whether the Council had a duty to protect members from abuse aimed at them on social media.

·                Debra Norman (Director of Legal, HR, Audit & Investigations) confirmed that the Council had in place an officer code of conduct, underpinned by disciplinary procedures although constrained by legislative procedures.  She continued that the Council promoted the members code of conduct complaints process on the corporate complaints page on its website. In view of the robust systems in place, there had been fewer complaints to date with no issues having been taken to the Audit & Standards Committee or Ombudsman’s office for adjudication.

·                The Council did not need to replace the retiring co-opted members now as one was sufficient on the Committee although arrangements would be made to ensure recruitment of new co-opted members and Independent Persons by next May, with the current office holders welcome to apply.

·                In addition to the mandatory training, the Council had organised training for members to ensure they were conversant in participating in virtual meetings.

·                The Council’s powers were restricted in dealing with abuse against a councillor on social media, although attention was drawn to new guidance issued by the Local Government Association (LGA).

In closing the discussion, the Chair thanked the Director for the comprehensive and positive report and responses.

The Committee RESOLVED that the Annual Standards Report (including quarterly update on gifts and hospitality) report be noted.