Issue - meetings

Item number AU 20/14 referred from Audit Committee of 27 July 2020

Item AU 20/14 referred from Audit Committee minutes of 27 July 2020

RESOLVED:  That the recommendation at Minute AU 20/14 be approved.

This report informs Members of the outcome of the annual review of the Local Code of Corporate Governance.

The joint report of the Chief Executive and Director of Central Services informed Members of the outcome of the annual review of the Local Code of Corporate Governance.  Members were advised that the introduction of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in May 2018 and the Data Protection Act 2018 required the adoption of new procedures and some minor updates to the Local Code in 2019.

In addition, the adoption by the Council of a Corporate Enforcement Policy, to guide the authority’s enforcement activities in all of its statutory functions, in 2019 and an updated Corporate Strategy for 2020-2023 required further minor updates to the Local Code to reflect those documents.

Members discussed the training provided to newly elected councillors in relation to regulatory functions and noted that training continued to be offered on both an ad-hoc and programmed basis.   The measures that could be taken if Members failed to attend training events without reasonable excuse or dispensation were set out in Protocol A: Members Attendance at Training in Part 5 (Codes) of the Constitution.  Sanctions included the non-participation ‘in the determination of planning applications or the business of the licensing authority until such time as they have attended alternative training approved by the General Purposes Committee.’  The importance of attending appropriate training when provided was recognised.

There was also discussion regarding Member attendance at meetings as set out in Section 85 (i) of the LGA 1972 which ‘required a Member of a Local Authority to attend at least one meeting of that Authority within a 6 month consecutive period in order to avoid being disqualified’ and consideration would be given to ensuring this was included in the Constitution as part of its next review.

Finally, reference was made to the ongoing commitment to provide committee reports written in a public facing and non-technical manner (as set out in Annex 1 to the report) and for these to be available on the Borough Councils website in support of transparency and effective accountability.

RECOMMENDED:  That the amendments to the Local Code of Corporate Governance, as set out in Annex 1 to the report and summarised above, be commended to Council for adoption.

*Referred to Council