Last reviewed 19 November 2020
The Welsh Government is asking for comments on how to deal with alleged misconduct of senior officers working in local authorities, including the chief executive, the monitoring officer and the chief finance officer.
In October 2019 the Minister for Housing and Local Government commissioned a review into the arrangements for dealing with alleged misconduct of senior officers within local government in Wales.
The aim of the review was to consider whether the current arrangements in Wales remain fit for purpose.
Following receipt of the review’s final report (to which a link is provided in the consultation document), the Welsh Government is inviting comments on recommendations including potential changes to the Local Government (Standing Orders) (Wales) Regulations 2006.
Whilst the review concluded the current arrangements remain broadly fit for purpose, there were some areas where it proposed changes aimed at improving a number of aspects of the current arrangements.
Full details of these can be found at https://gov.wales/sites/default/files/consultations/2020-11/alleged-misconduct-of-local-authority-senior.pdf and the deadline for submitting responses is 10 February 2021.
Possible changes
The suggested amendments concern:
the meaning of misconduct in the arrangements
the sanctions used when the Designated Independent Person has made a recommendation
choosing the Designated Independent Person and the cost of the appointment
the role of the Investigating Committee
the relationship between the Designated Independent Person and the Investigating Committee
the Designated Independent Person’s power of direction and sanction
interaction with external investigations
interaction with contractual terms and policies
legal representation.
