Agenda item - Whistleblowing Update

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Agenda item

Whistleblowing Update

Report of the Executive Lead Officer, Strategy, Governance & Law

Decision:

1)             That the report be noted

 

2)             That the proposed changes as set out in this report, including the revised whistleblowing policy, a dedicated whistleblowing e-mail address, publicity to the policy and a whistleblowing template/form be agreed

 

3)             That a further report be brought back to a subsequent Audit & Standards Committee this year to provide more detail on the exact cost of an external whistleblowing service to allow Committee to properly evaluate the relative benefits of an external service.

Minutes:

42.1      The Committee considered a report of the Executive Lead Officer, Strategy, Governance & Law that updated the committee on the whistleblowing policy and requested approval of steps to improve the operation of the changes.

 

42.2      In response to questions from Councillor Hugh-Jones, the Executive Lead Officer, Strategy, Governance & Law replied that many cases were based upon grievances that did not have evidence as a Whistleblowing complaint. However, some cases had been found to be serious and had led to dismissal that clearly demonstrated the need and high value for such a facility.

 

42.3      In response to questions from Councillor West, the Executive Lead Officer, Strategy, Governance & Law clarified that there was a facility to make anonymous Whistleblowing complaints as well as raising issues through trade unions, workers forums who could also represent the complainant. The Executive Lead Officer, Strategy, Governance & Law highlighted that the involvement of senior officers was demonstration of how seriously the authority treated Whistleblowing complaints on options for a corporate email address monitored by Internal Audit and/or an external organisation responsible for receiving and investigating Whistleblowing reports could be considered and investigated. The Executive Lead Officer, Strategy, Governance & Law added that employees were asked about the effectiveness of the Whistleblowing procedures indirectly through the annual staff survey and the main issue received through that process was a request that reports were taken seriously rather than a concern that senior staff were involved in the process.

 

42.4      Councillor Hugh-Jones moved a motion on behalf of the Green Group to amend the recommendations as shown in bold italics below:

 

2.3    That a further report be brought back to a subsequent Audit & Standards Committee this year to provide more detail on the exact cost of an external whistleblowing service to allow Committee to properly evaluate the relative benefits of an external service.

 

42.5      Introducing the motion, Councillor Hugh-Jones stated that it was a request to ensure the committee were in a fully informed position relating to best practice for Whistleblowing procedures.

 

42.6      Councillor Littman formally seconded the motion stating that it was worth investigating the matter if it was found to enhance the Whistleblowing process.

 

42.7      The Chair agreed that it would be beneficial to learn if the Council’s policy was the most effective it possibly could be and a report would assist with that.

 

42.8      The Chair then put the motion to the vote that passed.

 

42.9      The Chair then put the recommendations as amended to the vote that were agreed.

 

42.10   RESOLVED-

 

1)             That the report be noted

 

2)             That the proposed changes as set out in this report, including the revised whistleblowing policy, a dedicated whistleblowing e-mail address, publicity to the policy and a whistleblowing template/form be agreed

 

3)             That a further report be brought back to a subsequent Audit & Standards Committee this year to provide more detail on the exact cost of an external whistleblowing service to allow Committee to properly evaluate the relative benefits of an external service.

Supporting documents:

 


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