Issue - meetings

An annual review of the Council’s Whistleblowing Policy and Anti-Fraud & Corruption Policy has taken place to ensure they are updated in line with best practice and legislation.

Best practice suggests these policies should be approved by Audit & Governance Committee.

Some minor amendments have been made to both policies including reference to the Council acting as a ‘prescribed person’ in the Whistleblowing Policy and reference to the new BCP Declaration of Interests, Gifts & Hospitality Policy in the Anti-Fraud & Corruption Policy. Both policies have updated contact details and some minor best practice wording changes.

An annual review of the Council’s Declaration of Interests, Gifts & Hospitality Policy has also taken place for consideration by Audit & Governance Committee prior to approval by the Corporate Management Board.

A suggested additional requirement has been introduced for employees, below Tier4 and who use their own discretion to make eligibility decisions, award decisions or grant permissions, to make a declaration even if the declaration required is a ‘Nil Declaration’.

There are also some minor wording amendments.

The Head of Audit and Management Assurance presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'C' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

The report presented the annual review of the Council’s Whistleblowing Policy and Anti-Fraud & Corruption Policy to ensure they were updated in line with best practice and legislation and the Committee was reminded that best practice suggested the policies should be approved by Audit and Governance Committee.

Minor amendments made to both policies were highlighted including reference to the Council acting as a ‘prescribed person’ in the Whistleblowing Policy and reference to the new BCP Declaration of Interests, Gifts & Hospitality Policy in the Anti-Fraud & Corruption Policy. Both policies also included updated contact details and some minor best practice wording changes.

An annual review of the Council’s Declaration of Interests, Gifts & Hospitality Policy had also taken place for consideration by the Committee prior to approval by the Corporate Management Board.

It was reported that a suggested additional requirement had been introduced for employees below Tier4 and who used their own discretion to make eligibility decisions, award decisions or grant permissions. Such employees would be required to make a declaration even if the declaration required was a ‘Nil Declaration’.

There are also a number of minor wording amendments and, in the course of review by the Committee, some additional typographical changes and clarifications were identified and would be incorporated into the text.

RESOLVED that the Audit and Governance Committee

(a)  Approve the Council’s Whistleblowing Policy, Anti-Fraud and Corruption Policy;

(b)  Endorse the Declaration of Interests, Gifts & Hospitality Policy before formal approval by the Corporate Management Board.

Voting: Unanimous