Agenda item

Report of the Director of Human Resources.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Human Resources providing Members with an annual review of the Protocol on Member/Officer relations and highlighting any related issues that have arisen in the year 1 August 2015 – 31 July 2016.

The Director of Human Resources highlighted that, in addition to the standard annual report to the Committee, some changes were also recommended this year in terms of the Member/Officer Protocol. The Director went on to highlight that whilst the Protocol was not explicitly part of either the Member or Employee Code of Conduct, it was now also recommended that the document be appended to the Employee Code of Conduct in order to make the connection between the two and the fact that the Protocol should be viewed in conjunction with this document clear.

The Chairman stated that he would also like to see the Protocol appended to the Guidance on the Members Code of Conduct going forward. He highlighted that this had also been the subject of some Member Development sessions delivered by the Comptroller and City Solicitor and it was hoped that this would also be offered to all new Members elected in Spring 2017 as a priority.

In response to questions, the Town Clerk reported that two Member Development sessions on the Member/officer Protocol had taken place over the past 3 months, with the Chairman of the Standards Committee writing to all directly elected and Co-opted Members strongly encouraging them to attend on the back of the recent complaint dealt with by the Committee. The Town Clerk reported that approximately 50 directly elected and Co-opted Members had attended across the two sessions. The Comptroller and City Solicitor reported that he was very aware of the need to promote the Protocol amongst both Officers and Members and would be happy to host one more session before the end of the year and further sessions in March/April 2017 for new and returning Members.

The Chairman highlighted that any changes to the Member/Officer Protocol would also need the approval of the Establishment Committee who would then refer the matter up to the Court of Common Council for final approval.

With regard to the suggested changes to the Member/Officer protocol, the Chairman questioned whether it was appropriate to give such prominence to the Public Sector Equality Duty or whether this might appear disproportionate in the absence of specific reference to any other legislation. The Committee agreed that this might appear to be the case and so suggested some modification to the proposed recommendations.  

RESOLVED – That, Members:

·        Note the report;

·        Approve the inclusion of specific reference to equality and diversity in the Protocol on Member/Officer Relations by including additional points in the Protocol’s Expectations as follows:

1)     (m) Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion in their relationship with Members and colleagues that as appropriate takes into account our Public Sector Equality Duty

2)     (i) Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion in their relationship with Officers and colleagues that as appropriate takes into account our Public Sector Equality Duty;

·        Approve the recommendation of the Establishment Committee to append the Protocol on Member/Officer Relations to the Employee Code of Conduct as set out in paragraph 8 of this report; and

·        Append the Protocol on Member/Officer Relations to the ‘Guidance to Members -Members’ Code of Conduct’ document.