PURPOSE

1. To update the Committee on the work the Panel has undertaken to date on the Ethical Audit of Partnering, Contracting and appointment to Outside Bodies.

BACKGROUND

2. The Committee established a Panel of the Chairman, Cllr Oulton and Mr Hibberd to review Members’ Attendance on Outside Bodies and to consider the Ethical issues around partnering and contracting.

3. The following work programme for the Panel has been agreed:

October 2006 – Review of the Good Practice Guide for Partnerships and the proposed Partnership Register.

December 2006 - Review of the proposed Partnership “Standing Orders” and review of the questionnaire on Members and Outside Bodies.

February 2007 - Ethical Review of Contract Standing Orders.

April 2007 - Final Report from the Panel for the Committee to approve on findings and actions on ethical issues that may arise (it is anticipated that any recommendations from the Panel will be incorporated as the work is progressed – rather than await this final report – the Committee will recall that this was the approach taken with the Ethical Audit).

PROGRESS TO DATE

4. The Panel has reviewed the Good Practice Guide for Partnerships and have recommended a number of detailed amendments for consideration by the Council. The most significant change recommended by the Panel was to include a reference to how, once a partnership has ended, the responsibility for any liabilities (both current and future) will be divided.

5. A questionnaire for Elected Members to test the quality of the support and information provided to Members who are appointed to Outside Bodies has been delayed but this work will be undertaken in due course.

RECOMMENDATIONS

6. That this update report be noted.

Contact Point : Chris Mathews,

Telephone: 823280

Email: [email protected]

JOHN LAWSON

Monitoring Officer