The Committee considered the report of the Acting Director of Law, HR and Asset Management informing of the action taken in relation to changes to the Council’s Gifts and Hospitality and Conflict of Interest policies and procedures following a report from the District Audit in September 2012.

On 14 February 2013, the Employment and Appointments Committee approved the revised policies and procedures.

In response to Members, Mr Tony Williams, Human Resources Manager indicated that regular communication would be underatken with all staff to reinforce compliance; information would also be built in as part of the induction process and the distribution of regular key messages was high on HR’s agenda. Information was to be shared at Departmental meetings that a register is to be kept to monitor compliance.

Mr Williams indicated that any breech of the policies may lead to disciplinary action or dismissal; the individual may also be criminally liable. The new Policy was made very clear to all staff as to what their responsibilities were in relation to adhering to the Policies and following procedures.

Members commented that it should be the responsibility of the Audit and Risk Management Committee to monitor the non-compliances.

RESOLVED: That

(1)  the Audit & Risk management Committee be asked to give Gifts, Hospitality and Conflicts of Interest a high priority of risk and investigate the cases detailed within the report; and

(2)  the report and the work undertaken since the Audit Report was produced in September be noted.