Joint Standards Committee	30 September 2020
Report of the Monitoring Officer

Update on Whistleblowing Policy

Summary

This report updates Members on the review of the Council’s Whistleblowing Policy.

Background

Veritau conducted a review of the Council’s Whistleblowing policy in 2018-2019.  On 6 February 2019 the Head of Internal Audit at City of York Council asked the Audit and Governance Committee to consider a new draft policy.  The document was being shared with the Committee for comment before being taken forward for approval.  It was suggested that the views of the Joint Standards Committee should be sought, because a whistleblowing report may involve a Councillor. 

The Joint Standards Committee convened a Task Group in order to discuss the draft policy and the Committee’s views were fed back to Veritau. The policy was again considered by the Audit and Governance Committee on 4 December 2019. The views of the Joint Standards Committee were taken into account and minor amendments were made to the draft policy. 

In January 2020, the draft policy was considered by the Council’s Corporate Management Team who made some final amendments to the policy before the policy was approved by the Council’s Interim Head of Paid Service. A copy of the policy, which has now been implemented by the Council, can be found at Annex A.

Implications

Financial

Not applicable to this report.

Human Resources (HR)

Not applicable to this report.

Equalities

None applicable to this report.

Legal

As detailed within the report.

Crime and Disorder, Information Technology and Property

Not applicable to this report.

Recommendations

Members are asked to note the report.

Author: Rachel Antonelli Senior Solicitor & Interim Deputy Monitoring Officer	Chief Officer Responsible for the report: Janie Berry Director of Governance & Monitoring Officer Tel:  01904 555385
Tel:  01904 551043
	Report Approved	√	Date	21 September 2020
Specialist Implications Officer(s):
Wards Affected:  List wards or tick box to indicate all					All	X
For further information please contact the author of the report

Background Papers:

· Annex A – Whistleblowing Policy