Issue - meetings

Report of the Director of Governance and Monitoring Officer enclosed.

Dawn Highton, Service Lead – Audit and Risk presented a report giving details the revised Anti-Fraud, Bribery and Corruption Policy, the Fraud Response Plan and the Whistleblowing Policy.

It was requested by Councillor Ogilvie that in future any amendments/updates to the policies be highlighted at the start of the report for ease of reference.

The responses to comments and queries made by members are outlined below:

Fraud Response Plan

-The Director of Governance confirmed that no member of staff had been identified in connection with fraud or dismissed for that reason.

-It was suggested that due to staff confidentiality agreements that had been signed in previous years – it was not possible to determine if fraud was involved or not. The Director of Governance assured the Committee that if criminal behaviour such as fraud was involved appropriate action would have been, and will be, taken. However, the comprehensive monitoring system in place ensures that it is extremely difficult to commit fraud.

-The Director of Governance acknowledged that it was difficult to apply disciplinary proceedings to councillors under the current regime, however it was important that both staff and councillors be equally included in the policy.

Whistleblowing Policy

Cllr Ogilvie referred to page 57, paragraph 2.3 at which it was stated that the list of major concerns is “not exhaustive”; therefore who would decide on criteria for other relevant matters? The Director of Governance responded that he would take that decision, unless it was an allegation against himself in which it would be the Chief Executive and vice versa.

RESOLVED:-

That the revised Anti-Fraud, Bribery and Corruption Policy, the Fraud Response Plan and the Whistleblowing Policy as set out in Appendices A, B and Cof the report, be noted.