Agenda item

A report of the Committee on Standards in Public Life’s review of best practice in promoting good behaviour in public life (January 2013) is attached for information.

The Committee considered a report of the Committee on Standards in Public Life’s review of best practice in promoting good behaviour in public life (January 2013). 

A Member commented on the report and reflected on how the structural circumstances of an organisation can give rise to misconduct.  However, it was noted that the organisational structure of the City of London Corporation was such that significant misconduct issues were not a consideration.  

In respect of embedding high standards in public life and the emergence of new ethical risks as a consequence of introducing new models of service delivery, it was suggested that whilst the City of London Corporation had robust systems in place to maintain high standards of behaviour, this needed to be demonstrated to the public.  It was further suggested that the issue of ethical standards in respect of service delivery, especially where contractors were engaged, should be explored in more detail to ensure consistency across the organisation and, if necessary, appropriate monitoring and review of ethical standards issues.  The Committee concurred with the points raised. 

RESOLVED: That the issue of ethical standards be considered in more detail at the May meeting of the Committee, with the Chairman of the Audit and Risk Management Committee invited to attend and comment.