Issue - meetings

To submit the report of the Monitoring Officer.

1.     To adopt the amendments to the Principles of Conduct and Code of Conduct for Members in accordance with the statutory requirement. The Council is also asked to authorise the Monitoring Officer to amend the Local Resolution Procedure to accompany the Code of Conduct where reference is made to these provisions.

2.     The content of the revised Whistleblowing Policy was noted in the Constitution.

The report was presented by the Monitoring Officer who noted that the report highlighted changes to the constitution. He noted that there were two aspects, the first being amending the code of conduct in line with the Local Government Regulations that came into force in January. He expressed that this was a minor change, simply in terms of the wording in the Code of Conduct and Principles of Conduct when discussing equality. Previously, for example, gender, race, disability and religion were listed individually, but the amendment changed this to "protected characteristics" as a term that covered all of them. In addition, in accordance with the Regulations, "socio-economic circumstances" were also included.

It was highlighted that the Code had already been statutorily amended, but the Council was required to formally adopt it and authorise the Monitoring Officer to amend the Internal Resolution Procedure as well to correspond with the Code of Conduct.

It was explained in relation to the second aspect that the Cabinet had reviewed the Whistle-blowing policy back in January and that amendments had been made. As it was a document that formed part of the Constitution, it was a requirement to submit it to the Council for information so that there was a record that a change had been made to the Constitution.

Members were given an opportunity to ask questions and offer observations.

It was noted that the items had been discussed in the Standards Committee, and that they were happy with the amendments.

RESOLVED

1.     To adopt the amendments to the Principles of Conduct and Members' Code of Conduct in accordance with the statutory requirement. The Council is also asked to authorise the Monitoring Officer to amend the Local Resolution Procedure to correspond with the Code of Conduct where these provisions are referenced.

2.     The content of the revised Whistle-blowing Policy was set out in the Constitution.