Agenda item

To consider the attached report.

Contact Officer:  maria.damigos@buckinghamshire.gov.uk

The Committee on Standards in Public Life (CSPL) advised the Prime Minister on ethical standards across the whole of public life in England.  It monitored and reported on issues relating to the standards of conduct of all public office holders and promoted the 7 principles of public life.  In 2018, the CSPL had carried out a review into the ethical framework for local authorities which included stake holder consultation.

On 2 July 2020, the Committee had considered a report relating to the CSPL review.  The main findings, observations and conclusions of the CSPL had been summarised and set out in the report.  It had also included the 15 best practice recommendations directed at local authorities together with details of the current position at Buckinghamshire Council in terms of compliance with these recommendations and RAG rating.

Members requested that a report come back to the Committee on the progress made in implementing the CSPL best practice recommendations (amber ratings).Appendix 1 set out each of the recommendations, position and RAG rating at the time of the report and detailed the proposed action(s) and comments/explanation.  All recommendations had been included to provide an overview.  Whilst recommendation 8 was considered to be complied with already, some amendments have been made to provide clarity.

The Council’s Constitution was due to be reviewed in April 2021 and this would include a review of the Code of Conduct.  It was also anticipated that a Model Code of Conduct would be introduced.  In view of this the proposed actions in Appendix 1 were interim measures pending a full review.  The proposed actions related mainly to updating the Guidance on Dealing with Member Complaints.  The proposed amendments to the Guidance to implement the relevant best practice recommendations were detailed in Appendix 2 as tracked changes, in red typeface.

The Guidance on Dealing with Member Complaints had also been approved on 2 July 2020 and the Committee had the power to update it, as appropriate.  Whilst it would be preferable to have the actions and measures dealt with in the Code of Conduct itself, it was considered that the proposed changes to the Guidance were sufficient to ensure that best practice was followed until such time as the Code of Conduct was updated.

Members sought additional information and were informed:-

(i)                 Appendix 1 – that the updating of the guidance on dealing with Member complaints was likely to change many of the amber RAG ratings to green.

(ii)               Appendix 1(Action 3) – that while it was mentioned that the Constitution was to be reviewed in April 2021, Members would be informed later in the agenda about the intention to put together a Constitution Member Working Group to review possible changes.  It was anticipated that work could be completed as soon as possible and well in advance of the 2021 local elections.

(iii)             Appendix 1 (Action 11) – an explanation was provided of the exceptional circumstances where it might be appropriate for a Parish Clerk’s standards complaint to be made to the Buckinghamshire Council rather than to the relevant Parish Council.

RESOLVED –

(1)               That the progress made in implementing the best practice recommendations of the Committee on Standards in Public Life (CSPL) on Local Government Ethical Standards be noted.

(2)               That the proposed actions on the recommendations, as detailed at Appendix 1, and the updating of the Guidance on Dealing with Member Complaints as proposed at Appendix 2 be approved.