Agenda item

To consider a report proposing amendments to the Member / Officer Protocol.

ESTABLISHMENT COMMITTEE

(The Revd. Stephen Decatur Haines, Deputy)

25 October 2016

Amendment to Protocol on Member/Officer Relations

Following discussion at the July meeting of the Court concerning training around the Protocol on Member/Officer Relations, the Establishment Committee and Standards Committee subsequently considered this matter and noted that the Protocol would henceforth feature as part of the induction programme for all employees. The Standards Committee also recommended that it would be appropriate to align the Protocol with the corporate commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion by including specific references. This would also reflect the wider commitments that had been made to developing and embedding equality and inclusion in the workplace and in service delivery. It was therefore recommended that the Court approve the amendments to the Protocol on Member/Officer Relations as set out at Appendix 1 to the report.

A Member queried the inclusion of these amendments within the Protocol, noting that they were already present within the relevant policies and suggesting that it was unnecessary and incongruous for them to be included here too. In reply, the Chairman advised that their inclusion here would be helpful in improving visibility and clarity for both Members and Officers.

Resolved – That the amendments to the Protocol on Member/Officer Relations be approved as set out at Appendix 1 to the report.