Issue - meetings

RECOMMENDED:      That the revised Whistleblowing Policy be approved and adopted

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The Deputy Monitoring Officer presented a report which reminded Members that the Council maintained a Whistleblowing Policy which set out the protections given to staff, Members and relevant third parties where they reported wrongdoing to the Council.

The Policy was drafted in 2017. It had now been reviewed and revised, taking into account matters raised by the Audit team. Key revisions included clarifications in a number of areas, a more robust structure for the assessment of whistleblowing reports, and a monitoring programme.

The Policy was also now supplemented by a Procedure, which addressed (i) how whistleblowing reports should be made, escalated and assessed, and (ii) the protections (in terms of employment rights) that whistleblowers would receive.

The revised Policy required the approval of Full Council to be adopted.

Councillor Rust asked if the was a Freedom to Speak Up Officer.  It was confirmed that there was not, but it was something that could be explored around the training process.

Councillor Beales commended the clear plain English document.

RECOMMENDED:      That the revised Whistleblowing Policy be approved and adopted

Reason for Decision

To ensure that the Policy is kept up-to-date and takes account of Audit recommendations.