Issue - meetings

A revised Confidential Reporting Code, which updated the previously agreed document in 2004, was submitted. It was reported that the document had already been considered by the Corporate Management Team, informal Leaders Group and the Audit Board, and was currently being considered by the Unions, and to date there had been no material change to the substance of the report. Accordingly, the views of the Committee were sought prior to its submission to the Executive Cabinet.

RECOMMENDED:

(i) that, from a practical viewpoint, any future updates/amendments proposed to the Code be highlighted (possibly in italics) rather than submitting a new document in full;

(ii) that, insofar as Paragraph 1.6 was concerned, a concern was expressed that the wording implies an obligation on the Council and third parties (who would be providing a service to the Council under a contract, over which the Council had no control), to adhere to a document when there was no way of monitoring whether they had, in fact, adhered to it; and

(iii) that, in all other respects, the report be commended to the Executive Cabinet with the caveat that the Head of Legal and Democratic Services be granted delegated authority to amend the Code following the necessary consultation with the Unions and any other relevant bodies.