Agenda item - Organisational Learning Review

Report of the Interim Executive Director of Finance & Resources (copy attached).

1)           That the Audit and Standards Committee note the content of the learning review.

2)           That the Committee note the progress and improvements already made to address the areas under the recommendations.

50.1      The Committee considered a report of the Interim Executive Director, Finance & Resources that summarised the findings and recommendations from the council’s learning review following the dismissal of the Assistant Director for Housing.

50.2      Councillor Druitt stated that he found some of the findings of the review to be damning of the council. Councillor Druitt asked why whistleblowing attempts were unsuccessful and why governance arrangements were not always fully understood or applied.

50.3      The Interim Executive Director, Finance & Resources stated that the report examined issues across a number of years and the investigators comments were reflective of the workplace environment at that time.

50.4      The Deputy Head of Law added that the Whistleblowing Policy was in place and reflected in the constitution and was clearly advertised and accessible on the council’s internal website and received accompanying publicity at its launch. The Deputy Head of Law supplemented that items had been received from staff and investigated arising from the Whistleblowing Policy. Monitoring would be continued and reported to the Committee for Members to check and challenge.

50.5      Diane Bushell stated that she found paragraph 4.1 to be slightly complacent regarding progress and sought assurance that the council had improved in the areas of policy, culture and in its governance arrangements.

50.6      The Head of Internal Audit clarified that reports through the Whistleblowing Policy were being received and whilst significant progress in changing the workplace culture had been made, the full scope of change would take time. Furthermore, four out of ten of the recommendations arising from the investigation were in operation and progress was continuing on the remaining six.

50.7      The Deputy Head of Law stated that the complaint made against the former Assistant Director had arisen from the Whistleblowing mechanism. The council had improved the process, accessibility and handling of Whistleblowing reports and made concrete policy changes such as on contract standing orders and declarations of interest.

50.8      Councillor Robins stated his concern regarding the comments made in the investigation relating to Member/Officer relations.

50.9      The Deputy Head of Law clarified that the Members/Officer Code of Conduct was set out in the council’s constitution and that would strike an appropriate balance if followed.

50.10   RESOLVED-

1)        That the Audit & Standards Committee note the content of the learning review.

2)        That the Committee note the progress and improvements already made to address the areas under the recommendations.