Archived decisions

COUNCIL MEETING, 21 FEBRUARY 2007

REPORT OF THE

Governance Committee

PART II

ETHICAL GOVERNANCE AT THE COUNTY COUNCIL

1. The Governance Committee and the Standards Committee have considered the outcomes of an ethical governance survey of County Councillors carried out in late 2006. Whilst all members were asked to complete the survey, responses were received from 45 of the 78 members. The primary intention behind the survey was to identify any gaps in members' awareness of ethical issues so that the programmes for future briefing and awareness sessions could be tailored accordingly. The next events will, therefore, pay particular attention to the County Council's duty to maintain and make available for inspection by members of the public the Register of Members' Interests and what issues members should consider when deciding whether or not to record particular interests.

2. The survey also revealed the need for more work to be done to increase members' knowledge of corporate policies in the County Council's Ethical Governance framework - Human Rights, Freedom of Information, Data Protection, Race-Relations, Sex and Disability Discrimination. This can be achieved in a number of ways and the Head of Corporate and Legal Services and Monitoring Officer will be liaising with corporate managers, particularly the Head of the Hampshire Learning Centre, to take these issues forward.

3. Taking the survey responses overall, the Committee was satisfied that there had been a good response from members as to their responsibilities under the Code of Conduct, the training they have received on the Code and their understanding of the distinction between what constitutes a personal interest and a personal, prejudicial interest and what action they needed to take in the event of the latter circumstances arising. There was also a positive response from members in terms of their interaction between themselves and with officers vis à vis honesty, integrity and maintaining confidences. The Leader of the Council and the Chief Executive were viewed by members as positive role models for the Council's ethical agenda.