AUDIT AND GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE	19 July 2023
Report of the Director of Governance

Report of the Monitoring Officer

Summary

1. To update the committee on any significant issues considered by the Monitoring Officer.

Background

2. This report is part of a regular update for the Audit and Governance Committee, in relation to any significant governance issues which have arisen since the last update, and any other issues which it is considered the Committee benefit from being aware of.

3. The Monitoring Officer is pleased to report that, in his view, no significant governance issues have arisen since the previous meeting of the Committee.  The Monitoring Officer continues to deal with any issues referred to him in accordance with his delegated powers.

4. The Monitoring Officer can also confirm that he is in the early stages of a review of the Constitution and hopes that some proposed amendments will be brought to the Committee’s September meeting, for consideration by the Committee (particularly relating to the Council Procedure Rules, and the Public Participation Protocol.  The Monitoring Officer would, however, welcome suggestions from the Committee as to any other areas of the Constitution which they consider would benefit from fresh consideration, together with the Committee’s views on the aforementioned Council Procedure Rules and Public Participation Protocol.

5. Finally, the Committee may recall that, following the receipt of the LGA’s Assurance Report in February this year, a commitment was given to review and develop a learning programme to implement the recommendations within that report. 

6. To that end, the Monitoring Officer has asked the Assistant Director of Policy and Strategy to develop a cultural change programme, which will help to deliver the necessary change, improve relations between Members and Officers, and thereby provide reassurance to the LGA that it has been heard.

7. It is anticipated that the programme will cover the following issues:

· Build stronger relationships by understanding expectations;

· Define the culture you want to see;

· Communicate the change;

· Lead by example;

· Embed training and support; and

· Align systems and processes.

8. This will become part of the ongoing Members Induction and training process, and should Members be satisfied with the above ‘direction of travel’, a more detailed report will be brought to the September meeting of the Committee.

Implications

Financial – None directly arising from this report.

Human Resources (HR) – None directly arising from this report.

Equalities – None directly arising from this report.

Legal – None directly arising from this report.

Crime and Disorder, Information Technology and Property – None directly arising from this report, although Members will note that the approach to providing common IT equipment to all Members following the elections, previously endorsed by Committee, will have resource implications which have been factored into the delivery programme.

Recommendations

9.      It is recommended that Members:

a) note the contents of the report;

b) provide any suggested topics for Constitutional amendments; and

c) note and agree the ‘direction of travel’ in relation to the cultural change programme suggested by the LGA.

Reasons for the Recommendation

10. To assist the Monitoring Officer in his consideration of the review of the Constitution, and to provide guidance to the Assistant Director of Policy and Strategy in relation to the cultural change programme recommended by the LGA.

Options

11. Members may choose to note or not note the contents of the report, may suggest areas of the Constitution to be reviewed, and may choose to approve or not approve the proposed ‘direction of travel’ for the cultural change programme.

Author and Chief Officer responsible for the report:	Bryn Roberts, Director of Governance and Monitoring Officer
	Report Approved	X	Date	6 January 2023
Wards Affected:  List wards or tick box to indicate all					All	X
For further information please contact the author of the report

Background Papers:

· None

Annexes:

· None