Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Executive Councillor (Corporate, Customer & Community Services).

The Deputy Leader of the Council and Executive Councillor (Corporate, Customer and Community Services) (Councillor Iain Roberts) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) outlining proposed revisions to the Council’s Code of Conduct for Officers and the Confidential Reporting policy and procedure.

RESOLVED – That approval be given to the proposed revisions to the Council’s Code of Conduct for Officers and the Confidential Reporting policy and procedure as detailed in the report.

To consider a report of the Deputy Chief Executive

The report considers proposed revisions to the Council’s Code of Conduct for Officers and the Confidential Reporting Policy and Procedure.

The Working Party is requested to comment on the proposed revisions to the Council’s Code of Conduct for Officers and the Confidential Reporting Policy and Procedure, prior to their consideration by the Corporate, Resource Management and Governance Scrutiny Committee.

Officer Contact: Sue Williams on 0161 474 2175 or email: sue.williams@stockport.gov.uk

The Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) requesting the Scrutiny Committee to consider revisions to the Constitution in respect to the Council’s Code of Conduct for Officers and the Confidential Reporting policy and procedure.

Councillors identified a number of small drafting errors which needed to be corrected and asked that it be made clear that the documents do not apply to employees of schools unless adopted locally by the School’s Governing Body.

RESOLVED – That the Council Meeting be recommended to approve the amended Code of Conduct for Officers and Confidential Reporting Policy subject to it being made clear that the documents do not apply to school employees unless adopted locally by the School’s Governing Body.

To consider a report of the Deputy Chief Executive

The report considers proposed revisions to the Council’s Code of Conduct for Officers and the Confidential Reporting Policy and Procedure.

The Working Party is requested to comment on the proposed revisions to the Council’s Code of Conduct for Officers and the Confidential Reporting Policy and Procedure, prior to their consideration by the Corporate, Resource Management and Governance Scrutiny Committee.

Officer Contact: Sue Williams on 0161 474 2175 or email: sue.williams@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) regarding proposed revisions to the Officers Code of Conduct and the Confidential Reporting on Whistleblowing Policy and Procedure.

The Code of Conduct had been revised to describe the conduct and behaviour expected of Officers. It also communicated the standard of conduct and behaviour that the public could expect from Council Officers.

The Confidential Reporting Policy and Procedure had been revised to accommodate changes to whistleblowing legislation. These legislative changes included making reference to protected disclosures being ‘in the public interest’ and removing the requirement that disclosures should be made in ‘good faith’.

The draft documents had been developed in line with good practice from other local authorities; input from the relevant Heads of Service and endorsement from the Corporate Leadership Team. The Head of People and Organisational Development had met with the trade unions after the agenda had been issued and proposed a number of amendments to the Council’s Code of Conduct for Officers at the meeting.

The Working Party recommended a number of further amendments to the Officers Code of Conduct.

RESOLVED – (1) That an amended version of the Officers Code of Conduct be sent to all Members of the Working Party, prior to consideration by the Corporate, Resource Management and Governance Scrutiny Committee.

(2) That the Council Meeting be recommended to approve the revised versions of the Officers Code of Conduct and the Confidential Reporting Policy and Procedure.