Issue - meetings

An annual review and update of the Council’s Declaration of Interests, Gifts & Hospitality (for officers) Policy took place in March 2024 and the revised policy was approved by Audit & Governance Committee (7 March 2024).

Some minor changes were made to the policy as part of the annual evolution including adding the need to confidentially store declarations as part of the responsibilities of Service Directors and the Monitoring Officer. A new In Year Minor Amendments and Editing Log was also added.

Internal Audit are able to provide reasonable assurance, through the completion of an annual exercise, that officers have made appropriate declarations of interests, gifts and hospitality.

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 'E' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Public Report 

An annual review and update of the Council’s Declaration of Interests, Gifts & Hospitality (for officers) Policy took place in March 2024 and the revised policy was approved by Audit & Governance Committee (7 March 2024).

Some minor changes were made to the policy as part of the annual evolution including adding the need to confidentially store declarations as part of the responsibilities of Service Directors and the Monitoring Officer. A new In Year Minor Amendments and Editing Log was also added.

Internal Audit were able to provide reasonable assurance, through the completion of an annual exercise, that officers have made appropriate declarations of interests, gifts and hospitality.

There had 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 Assurance Management provided the following information in response to questions from the Committee:

• Officers still had to complete the form with nil return if they were tier 4 and above which were generally all key decisions.
• Staff below tier 4 only made a declaration when they had something to declare.
• There was a minimum amount for gift was £25 and hospitality at £50 although a lot of officers chose to set this at £0.

RESOLVED that:

1. Audit & Governance Committee note the annual review of Declarations of Interests, Gifts & Hospitality by Officers (2023/24).

2. Endorse the opinion of the Head of Audit & Management Assurance that the Policy is fit for purpose and that there was a good level of awareness and compliance in 2023/24.