Janet Fasan, Director of Legal and Monitoring Officer, introduced the report proposing the establishment of a working group to review the Member/Officer Relations Protocol. She explained that this document was in effect a supplement to the Code of Conduct and now that the new Code was complete it was the appropriate time to review the Member / Officer relations protocol. The existing protocol was attached at Appendix 1 to the report.

The Chair noted that the Protocol was in need of an update and welcomed the opportunity to set up a working-group to look at it. During discussion it was noted:

·       The protocol was now in an older ‘style’ compared to the new Code of Conduct.

·       The Member to Member Relations Section should be improved.

·       It wasn’t clear in the protocol who had accountability for which decisions.

·       The referenced Member Service Guide needed considering

·       The section on Political Assistants should include a description of that role.

·       It wasn’t always appropriate for officers to seek informal resolution of issues with Members.

·       It was worth considering the best way of dealing with issues around the Chief Executive role.

The Monitoring Officer thanked everyone for their contributions and agreed to establish the working group.

RESOLVED

1.    That a working group be established to review the Member / Officer Relations Protocol and to report back to the Committee on the conclusion of its work.