Agenda item

This presents the Monitoring Officer’s Annual Report to the Audit and Standards Advisory Committee (ASAC) for 2024. The report provides an update on Member conduct issues and the work of the Audit and Standards Advisory Committee, the Audit and Standards Committee (ASC) and the Monitoring Officer during 2024 together with the quarterly report on gifts and hospitality registered by Members.

Debra Norman (Corporate Director of Governance and Law) introduced the report updating the Audit and Standards Advisory Committee (ASAC) on Member conduct issues and the work of the Audit and Standards Advisory Committee, the Audit and Standards Committee (ASC) and the Monitoring Officer during 2024, together with the quarterly report on gifts and hospitality registered by Members. The Committee noted the following key points:

·             The summary of the work undertaken by the Audit & Standards Advisory Committee during 2024 on standards related issues (as detailed within section 3.2 of the report) which had included regular monitoring updates in relation to members declaration of gifts and hospitality and attendance at mandatory training sessions as well as updates on standards related Ombudsman and other relevant legal cases and the annual review of Member Learning and Development use of RIPA powers and the Annual Governance Statement. Members noted that the Audit & Standards Committee has also met on one occasion during 2024 (in relation to governance and standards issues) to formally approve the Annual Governance Statement.

·             Following the appointment of Rhys Jarvis and Stephen Ross as Independent co-opted members (both Standards focussed) on the Advisory Committee, it was noted that Full Council in February 2025 had also approved the appointment of Sebastian Evans as an Independent co-opted member (Audit focussed) and would also be asked to confirm (at the Annual Council meeting in May 2025) the ongoing appointment of the three existing Independent Persons – William Goh, Keir Hopley and Julie Byrom for the 2024-25 Municipal Year.

·             During 2024 the Monitoring Officer had received complaints and made determinations regarding six councillors allegedly in breach of the Members  Code of Conduct.  Of these complaints two were resolved at Initial Assessment Stage; three were resolved at Assessment Criteria Stage; one was still currently under investigation.  Of these two were upheld as a breach of the Code; two were subject to review requests, which were not upheld; and one had escalated to formal investigation stage (at the request of the Councillor) with a summary attached as Appendix A of the report.

·             The details of Gifts and Hospitality registered by members in the final quarter of 2024-25 (Jan – March 24) as detailed in section 3.11 and Appendix B of the report.  Members noted that following a recommendation in the Value for Money Report from the external auditors, a review was also currently being undertaken in respect of aspects of the Council’s member’s gifts and hospitality relating to declarations classified as exceptional items which would be reported to the committee in due course.

·             Three Monitoring Officer Advice Motes had been issued to date during 2024, addressing (as part a focus on the Members Code of Conduct) impartiality and disrepute, registering and declaring interests and the complaints process.  Members were advised that one further MOAN was scheduled to be issued during the current year relating to bullying and intimidation with all MOANs available to access via the Members internal SharePoint Portal.

·             The update provided in relation to member attendance at mandatory training sessions, with the Committee advised that all mandatory training had now been completed by members for 2024 and the councillor recently elected as a result of the Alperton bye-election noted to have made good progress in completion of their required mandatory training.

The Committee was then invited to raise any comments/issues on the update provided, which are summarised below:

·             In welcoming the update provided, assurance was sought that the Independent co-opted members and Independent Persons had been added to the distribution list for all MOANs, which Debra Norman confirmed had been undertaken.

·             In response to a request made at the meeting, Debra Norman advised she would arrange for confirmation to be provided as to where hospitality accepted by the Mayor in their civic role was being recorded on the Council’s website, which it was noted was registered separately to standard Gifts & Hospitality received by other members of the Council.

As no further questions were raised the Chair thanked Debra Norman for the update provided and it was RESOLVED to note the contents of the report.

At this stage in the meeting, the Chair advised that he intended to allow a short pause in proceedings to enable those members observing Ramadan to break for Iftar.  The meeting was therefore paused at 6:15pm for a period of 25 minutes with proceedings recommencing at 6:40pm.