Agenda item

The Head of Employee Relations presented to the Audit Committee an updated Whistleblowing Policy & Procedure and Whistleblowing Annual Report 2020/21 in accordance with the Prescribed Persons (Reports on Disclosures of Information) Regulation 2017 (the ‘2017 Regulation’).

The officer advised that at its meeting held on 20^th July 2020, the Audit Committee agreed for a complete review of the Whistleblowing Policy to be undertaken and the outcome reported to Audit Committee during 2020/21. Members were informed that a review of the document had since been undertaken and it had been concluded that the document is fit for purpose subject to the inclusion of the following proposed update at Section 5.1:

·       Any allegation made that could be deemed as an offence of a criminal nature (e.g. using a phone whilst driving), may be forwarded to the police for a decision on whether any further action may be taken.

The officer advised that, subject to Audit Committee’s approval, an updated Whistleblowing Policy & Procedure would be published on the Council’s website and awareness raising undertaken across Council Services. Furthermore, the Whistleblowing Policy & Procedure would be kept under on-going review and where further updates are proposed, these will be reported to Audit Committee’s consideration.

Members were then referred to the Whistleblowing Annual Report for the 2020-21 Municipal Year, which was attached at Appendix 2 to the report. The officer assured Members that all whistleblowing referrals had been fully investigated, and where appropriate, necessary action had been undertaken.

One Member emphasised the importance of ensuring all staff are made aware of the proposed amendment to the Whistleblowing Policy and questioned how it would be communicated. The officer advised that, if approved, the revised Policy would be sent to all staff and Members via a payslip insert, a method which had successfully been utilised in the 2019, along with the use of posters and staff/management inductions.

One Member noted that concerns or allegations that fall within the scope of specific procedures (for example, child protection or discrimination issues) would normally be referred for consideration under those procedures and questioned how the process is recorded. The officer explained that such allegations would be recorded within the appropriate Whistleblowing process and would be included within the Annual Report.

Another Member sought clarity on the Whistleblowing process and how malicious allegations are dealt with. The officer acknowledged that allegations of a malicious nature are received and advised that, in the first instance, an allegation would be referred to the specific service area for the manager to establish whether a formal investigation would need to be undertaken. The officer assured the Committee that each allegation is considered on its own merit, which then determines the level of action taken.

The Audit Committee RESOLVED:

1.     To approve the proposed update to the Council’s Whistleblowing Policy & Procedure (Appendix 1) and instruct the Director of Human Resources to publish and raise awareness of the updated document;

2.     To approve the Whistleblowing Annual Report 2020/21 (Appendix 2) in line with the requirements placed upon the Council by the 2017 Regulation; and

3.     To consider whether any other changes or improvements to the current whistleblowing arrangements are required.