Issue - meetings

An annual review and update of the Council’s Declaration of Interests, Gifts & Hospitality Policy took place in March 2022.

The recommendations arising from the Internal Audit review on compliance with the Declaration of Interests, Gifts & Hospitality Policy last year have all been implemented.

There have been no internal or external identified instances, whistleblowing or reports by any other means where an undeclared interest by officers has led to any disciplinary action or led to reputational damage.

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 'D' to these Minutes in the Minute Book and it was explained that the report, and the following three reports, had all fed in to final production of the Annual Governance Statement.

The Committee was informed that the annual review and update of the Council’s Declaration of Interests, Gifts & Hospitality Policy (for Officers) took place in March 2022 and it was also confirmed that recommendations arising from the previous year’s Internal Audit review on compliance with the Declaration of Interests, Gifts & Hospitality Policy had all been implemented.

The Head of Audit and Management Assurance certified that there had been no internal or external identified instances, whistleblowing or reports by any other means where an undeclared interest by officers had led to any disciplinary action or led to reputational damage.

In response to questions, the Monitoring Officer explained the separate process for recording declarations of interest by Councillors and described the process in place for reminding Members of their responsibilities. Although the law did not require checking of these Councillor declarations, the schedule of declarations was published on the Council’s internet and fully available for public scrutiny.

RESOLVED that Audit and Governance Committee notes the annual review of Register of Declarations of Outside Interests and Receipts of Gifts & Hospitality by Officers (2021/22).

Voting: Unanimous