Council                                                           Agenda Item 51

Subject: Transparency of External Findings

Date: 1 October 2026

Proposer: Councillor Birgit Miller

Seconder: Councillor Sameer Bagaeen

Ward(s) affected: All

Notice of Motion

Independent Cllrs Birgit Miller and Sameer Bagaeen

This Council notes:

1. The Council is subject to scrutiny by regulators, inspectorates, ombudsmen, courts and tribunals whose findings provide important evidence about the quality, legality and effectiveness of Council services and decision-making.
2. Findings may be adverse or positive, including findings of fault, maladministration or non-compliance, as well as findings of no fault and good practice.
3. Information on such findings is currently dispersed across different organisations and Council processes, making effective scrutiny difficult for residents and Members.
4. Greater transparency strengthens accountability, supports organisational learning and helps identify recurring or systemic issues.

This Council resolves to:

Refer to the appropriate decision-making body to consider:

1. Establishing a publicly accessible External Regulatory, Ombudsman and Judicial Findings Register.
2. Including all published findings, judgments, inspection outcomes and determinations concerning the Council, its directorates or services from bodies including the Equality and Human Rights Commission, Information Commissioner's Office, Regulator of Social Housing, Housing Ombudsman, Care Quality Commission, Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, courts, tribunals and relevant professional regulators.
3. Including both adverse and positive or exonerating outcomes.
4. Recording the relevant service, external body, outcome, recommendations, Council response and action taken, with links to published determinations where practicable.
5. Identifying elected Members or senior officers only where publication is lawful, necessary and proportionate.
6. Providing safeguards for complainants, service users, employees and third parties, and updating the Register where findings are appealed, varied, overturned or corrected.
7. Providing an annual report to the appropriate scrutiny, audit or standards body on recurring issues, outstanding recommendations and lessons for service improvement and governance.