Issue - meetings

To receive a report from the Corporate Performance and Improvement Manager and Head of People, Performance and Waste presenting the updated Whistleblowing Policy for 2025.

The Committee had before it a report * from the Corporate Performance and Improvement Manager and the Head of People, Performance and Waste presenting it with the updated Whistleblowing Policy for 2025.

The contents of the report were outlined with particular reference to the following:

·       This report presented the Council's Whistleblowing Policy, which was reviewed every four years. 

·       It had been reviewed by officers and any changes made to the policy were highlighted as tracked changes.  

·       The changes were mainly to keep the Policy accurate, such as to job titles, or the details of the Council’s external auditor. 

·       In addition to these factual changes the Council had also explicitly stated the legal basis for whistleblowing towards the start of the Policy.  

·       Links to the Grievance Policy had been strengthened as issues could be raised through that route if it was not deemed to be a whistleblowing matter.  

·       A web link had also been included to a full list of the prescribed bodies that a whistleblowing disclosure can be made to, depending on the nature of the concern.

RESOLVED that the updated Whistleblowing Policy for 2025 be approved.

(Proposed by Cllr  D Broom and seconded by Cllr R Roberts)

Reason for the decision

Without this Policy, the Council was at increased risk of not detecting fraud, corruption or financial irregularities, which could result in loss to the Council or damage its reputation.

Note: * Report previously circulated.