Issue - meetings

Members considered a report that provided the information necessary to prepare the Council to implement processes and procedures to ensure compliance with the Bribery Act 2010 that would come into effect on 1st July 2011.

The Fraud Services Manager presented the report and informed Members that Local Authorities were not exempt from the Bribery Act 2003, as they were ‘formed’ within the United Kingdom and conducted business.  She informed Members of ‘The Six Principles’ that the Council should comply with in order to have a level of defence:

§         Proportionality

§         Top Level Commitment

§         Risk Assessment

§         Due Diligence

§         Communication

§         Monitoring and Review

The Fraud Services Manager responded to Councillor J. S. Brogan and confirmed that the 3 month implementation period was from 31st March 2011 to 30th June 2011 and not 31st March 2011 to 30th June 2010 as shown in section 2.1 of the report.

RESOLVED that the information as set out in Appendix A to the report be noted and that the implications of the Bribery Act 2010 be included in future Council strategies.

RECOMMENDED that procedures be put in place to avert any possible actions against the Council, in relation to Bribery actions and in relation to potential legal actions that could be taken against the Council for not having ‘adequate’ procedures in place.