Issue - meetings
Update - Implementation of best practice recommendations by CSPL
Meeting: 15/02/2023 - Standards Advisory Committee (Item 3)
3 Update - Implementation of best practice recommendations by CSPL PDF 262 KB
Additional documents:
- Appendix A CSPL, item 3 PDF 483 KB
- Appendix B - Government response to the CSPL, item 3 PDF 345 KB
- Appendix C - actions from Leading in Practice, item 3 PDF 120 KB
- Webcast for Update - Implementation of best practice recommendations by CSPL
Minutes:
Janet Fasan, Director Legal and Monitoring Officer introduced the report that informed members of the Government’s response to the Committee on Standards in Public Life’s review of Local Government Ethical Standards published in January 2019, and updated members on the progress of LBTH in implementing them.
Further to questions from the Advisory Committee, Janet provided further detail on:
· Recommendation 2: the process followed at LBTH to determine if addresses should be withheld from the register of interest and scope for discretion of the Monitoring Officer. Janet agreed to investigate whether the legislation allowed for more flexibility than is currently used and would report back.
· Recommendation 11: The choice not to offer legal indemnity for Independent Persons.
· Recommendation 23: Interpretation of the audit contact requirement referenced. Janet agreed to check the information published by the Council satisfies the recommendation.
Further to questions of officers, the advisory Committee:
· Indicated they felt the implications of the review and Council responses was wider than the Advisory Committee. Members suggested the recommendations and Council response should be forwarded to the Mayor and a summary be included in the weekly members bulletin.
· Expressed agreement with the response to recommendation 8 regarding fixed terms of office for IPs, but asked how the Council could best address risks of creating groupthink and reducing challenge and scrutiny by having IPs for longer terms.
RESOLVED that:
1. The report be noted.