Agenda item

To receive the initial report from the Local Government Association in response to the Committee’s request for their views with regards the Council’s approach to delivery of the Action Plan prepared in response to the Report in the Public Interest dated 19 April 2021.

The Committee were joined by Mark Edgell Facilitator/Manager from the Local Government Association (LGA), to discuss the questions raised by the LGA relating to the Council Action Plan, in response to the Public Interest Report (PIR), following the Committees request for the support of the LGA.

Mr Edgell outlined five areas which the LGA believed required additional focus, which were outlined in annexes to the report. He highlighted specifically the need for cultural change at the Council. He also noted that the Council would need to determine how to measure whether the actions within the plan once successfully carried out would had made a difference. He noted that the LGA would provide a final report to the Committee in a year.

The Committee discussed the requirement for cultural change at the Council and enquired whether York being a three way marginal, or having a strong leader system of government facilitated cultural problems. Mr Edgell noted that he felt these circumstances outlined were not solely responsible and noted that other Councils in a similar situtation did not have similar cultural issues. It was noted that previous PIR’s had highlighted similar cultural problems at the Council and it was debated how the Council might address these issues. Mr Edgell noted the role of councillor and officer training to ensure roles are understood and promote members to follow guidance provided by officers.

Members raised the role of the Monitoring Officer and the LGA’s recommendation that action be taken to ensure the Monitoring Officer can carry and their role effectively. In relation to the PIR it was noted that the Monitoring Officers advice was not fully taken by Members involved and it was discussed how to prevent this happening again. The Committee considered whether individual training for Members could be mandated and whether a log could be maintained of advice provided by the Monitoring Officer to Members. It was also considered whether or not, the Monitoring Officer could intervene if they believed a Member was not declaring an interest in a meeting, where it would be appropriate to do so.

The Council’s complaints procedures were considered in relation to complaints raised against Members. The work of the Joint Standards Committee to improve the complaints procedure were highlighted along with the adoption of the LGA’s model code of conduct. This work was welcomed by Members of the Committee as it was noted that some standards complaints previously including one which related to the actions which lead to the incident connected to the PIR had been dismissed before reacting the Joint Standards Committee under the previous guidance. It was highlighted that some Members felt the Councils procedures at the time of the PIR, had not been carried out consistently when a standards complaint was made against a Member.  

The Committee therefore discussed how the gaps highlighted by the LGA whether the action plan could be amended to seek to address these issues. Officers noted that the implementation plan for the action plan could be reviewed and would be discussed in the next peer meeting with the LGA. Members also noted that the LGA had raised a number of questions to Council Officers and the Committee therefore enquired as to whether these could be shared with Members, officers noted that they would need to enquire with the LGA and would share if the LGA were in agreement.

Resolved:

                      i.         That the Committee request a six month update report form the LGA on the progress of the Council implementation of the Action Plan;

                     ii.         That Officers discuss with the LGA how to incorporate into the implementation plan, actions to address gaps identified by the LGA in the report;

                    iii.        Officers to enquire with the LGA about sharing questions raised by the LGA to officers with Members of the Committee via email.

Reason:     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.