AUDIT & GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE	6 April 2022
Report of the Director of Governance

Progress against the Action Plan prepared in response to the Public Interest Report

Summary

To provide an update on the progress being made with regards to delivery of the Action Plan prepared in response to the Report in the Public Interest dated 19^th April 2021.

Background

The Council is required to address the recommendations set out in the Report in the Public Interest dated 19^th April 2021, and accepted by Full Council on 4^th May 2021.  An Action Plan was also approved by Full Council and Audit & Governance Committee has been asked to oversee the delivery of the Action Plan.

Officers prepared a project plan to add detail to the approach to be taken towards delivering the Action Plan which is now attached at Annex One to this report.  All actions detailed within this project plan have been completed by Officers, however work has now commenced on developing training and awareness raising for Officers and Members as it is essential that the various elements of the Action Plan become embedded culture across the council.  Examples of this include training in respect of the constitution, the ongoing development of a Member development programme including mandatory induction programme for May 2023, Officer training on the revisions to the Employee Code and the Protocol on Officer and Member Relations.

The LGA Peer Team and the Council’s External Auditors have both been informed of the progress made to date. 

Implications

Financial – The Council is a member of the LGA and therefore the support from the LGA is at nil cost.  As previously reported to this committee, the financial impact of the Public Interest Report is £33.8k. This is shown at Annex Two to this report.

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

Equalities – None directly arising from this report.

Legal – As detailed within this report, the Council has received and accepted the Report in the Public Interest dated 19^th April 2021, and therefore is required to undertake necessary steps to address the highlighted recommendations.  The various individual steps required in addressing these recommendations may in themselves require legal advice.   

Crime and Disorder, Information Technology and Property - None directly arising from this report.

Recommendations

To receive an update on the progress being made with regards to delivery of the Action Plan prepared in response to the Report in the Public Interest dated 19^th April 2021.

Reasons for the Recommendation

The Audit & Governance Committee is required by Full Council to monitor the delivery of the Action Plan prepared in response to the Public Interest Report.

Options

There are no other options for the Committee to consider on this occasion.

Author &  Chief Officer responsible for the report:	Janie Berry, Director of Governance & Monitoring Officer
	Report Approved	X	Date	22^nd March   2022
Specialist Implications Officer(s):  Debbie Mitchell, Chief Finance Officer and Section 151 Helen Whiting, Head of Human Resources
Wards Affected:  List wards or tick box to indicate all					All	X
For further information please contact the author of the report

Background Papers:

· Agenda, Reports and Minutes of the extraordinary meeting of Full Council dated 4^th May 2021

· Agenda, Reports and Minutes of the Audit & Governance Committee

· Agenda and Reports of the Joint Standards Committee on 24^th January 2022

· Agenda and Reports and the revised draft Constitution (published early) for the Audit & Governance Committee on 2^nd February 2022

· Agenda and Reports for Full Council on 24^th March 2022 including the link to the revised constitution

Annexes:

· Annex One:  Project Plan developed in support of the Action Plan

· Annex Two: Cost of the Public Interest Report