Decision details

Good Governance Review

Decision status: For Determination

Is Key decision?: No

Is subject to call in?: No

Decisions:

20.1     The Committee considered a report by the Director of Law and Assurance on the implications, for those areas for which the Committee was responsible, of the programme of work on aspects of Council governance and to endorse the revised whistleblowing policy as part of the good governance work related to organisational culture (copy appended to the signed minutes).

 

20.2     The Leader expressed support for the changes which had already been made to governance arrangements as set out in paragraph 2.1 of the report. He said he hoped that all members would attend the virtual Member Day on 8 July when the results of the work so far would be presented for comments. Relevant output from the session would be brought to a future meeting of the Committee.

 

20.3     The Director of Law and Assurance confirmed that the Member Day on 8 July would provide members with information about the workstreams arising from the Good Governance Review, a number of which would affect responsibilities of the Committee.  Work would be undertaken over the next couple of months and a further report would be brought to the Committee in the autumn.

 

20.4     Cllr Jones commented on the proposed changes to the Whistleblowing Policy which he felt should be submitted for to the Performance and Finance Scrutiny Committee for examination before it was approved by the Governance Committee.  He therefore moved an amendment as set out below which was seconded by Cllr Walsh:

 

‘That the Committee refers the revised Whistleblowing Policy (paragraph 2.5 and Appendix 2) to the Performance and Finance Scrutiny Committee and receives any comments, before returning to the Governance Committee for approval.

 

20.5     Other members commented that the policy was sensible and timely. The Director of Law and Assurance commented that, as the policy was not a matter for the Executive, it would not be appropriate for it to be referred to a Scrutiny Committee.  As a non-Executive matter oversight of the policy fell within the responsibility of the Standards Committee. However, as there was not a meeting of that Committee until November, the matter had instead been brought to the Governance Committee for consideration. He said there would be a report to the next meeting of the Standards Committee for information.

 

20.6     Cllr Jones’ amendment was put to the vote and lost.

 

20.7     Resolved –

 

(1)         That the Committee notes the report and the plans for a further report on the output from the workstreams identified and considers the principles for guiding the work on streamlining and simplifying decision making (set out at Appendix 1 to the report); and

 

(2)         That the revised Whistleblowing Policy (paragraph 2.5 and Appendix 2 to the report) be approved.

Publication date: 09/07/2020

Date of decision: 06/07/2020

Decided at meeting: 06/07/2020 - Governance Committee

Accompanying Documents: