Agenda item

CSD  21114

Members noted the Matters Outstanding report and that most of the issues were being updated upon in the body of the Internal Audit Progress report.

Members discussed the matter of the possibility of undue influence that could be exercised by former Council employees who had previously worked in the Council’s Planning Department and now working as planning consultants in the private sector. A Member commented that in his view, the same officer should not be writing a planning report and then giving advice on the same planning application. He mentioned other concerns where in some cases a Councillor had either worked for a developer or had been married to one. He suggested that Internal Audit should draw up protocols concerning how officers from the Planning Department should work. He felt that guidance was required for both Members and officers.

A Member agreed with these comments and stated that in her view this was a matter that needed attention. She expressed the view that the current Standards Committee process was flawed and that there had been clear instances of influence with respect to Planning. Any way that Internal Audit could assist going forward would be of benefit to the integrity of the Council. 

The Head of Audit and Assurance stated that issues had been raised previously and some of these concerns had been dealt with at the time. Internal Audit was planning to undertake an audit with respect to Planning later this year, and this would be undertaken by Mazars as they could bring into the audit the experience that they had gained when dealing with similar issues in other local authorities. They were aware that concerns had been raised. The Head of Audit and Assurance said that it was possible to build in appropriate controls and processes. He would be having a meeting soon with the new Director of Corporate Services and would raise these issues with her. He felt that much of what had been discussed was a matter of conduct and therefore may be more appropriate to be looked at by the Standards Committee.

A Member commented that some social interactions with anyone submitting a planning application would be below the threshold required to make a declaration. However, in his view (as it was still a social interaction) then it still should be declared. Reference was also made to planning applications submitted by Councillors and that it may be prudent to introduce some aspect of independent oversight in these particular circumstances. The Chairman re-iterated his view that the Standards Committee should lead, supported by Internal Audit.

A Member felt that it would be useful to ask the Standards Committee to look at the involvement of Councillors in various enterprises that may have an impact on key issues in addition to the matters raised regarding Planning. He felt that this would be an issue that the Standards Committee would be interested in looking at and this should be highlighted to the Chairman of the Standards Committee.

A Member stated that it would not be possible in most cases to curtail the activities of former staff members.

It was noted that the remit of the Standards Committee extended to Members only and not to officers. 

RESOLVED that the Matters Outstanding report be noted.