Issue - meetings
Declarations of Interest
Meeting: 25/07/2024 - Cabinet (Item 2)
Declarations of Interest
To receive any declarations of interest from Members and Officers, relating to items to be considered at the meeting.
Additional documents:
Decision:
There were no declarations of interest from Members.
The Leader made a statement in respect of Item 15: the Publica Review - Detailed Transition Plan. The following points were made:
· The Publica Shareholder Councils had taken legal advice about whether officers employed by the Publica Group whose roles are in scope for the phase 1 transition to direct Council employment needed to declare an interest and/or leave the room.
· Whilst officers do not have an “interest” in public-law decision making unlike the decision-makers (i.e. Councillors), there was a need to avoid the appearance of bias.
· Therefore officers employed by the Publica Group who were in scope for the phase 1 transition, such as Democratic Services officers, would leave the room for the duration of the item.
· Any officers employed by the Publica Group who were acting as Deputy Statutory Officers or otherwise advising members in relation to the Publica Transition item are able to stay in the room. This was because, in the view of the Council’s Monitoring Officer, the need for Members to receive answers to questions outweighed the risk of any appearance of bias.
Minutes:
There were no declarations of interest from Members.
The Leader made a statement in respect of Item 15: the Publica Review - Detailed Transition Plan. The following points were made:
- The Publica Shareholder Councils had taken legal advice about whether officers employed by the Publica Group whose roles were in scope for the phase 1 transition to direct Council employment needed to declare an interest and/or leave the room.
- Whilst officers do not have an “interest” in public-law decision making unlike the decision-makers (i.e. Councillors), there was a need to avoid the appearance of bias.
- Therefore, officers employed by the Publica Group who were in scope for the phase 1 transition, such as Democratic Services officers, would leave the room for the duration of the item.
- Any officers employed by the Publica Group who were acting as Deputy Statutory Officers or otherwise advising members in relation to the Publica Transition item were able to stay in the room. This was because, in the view of the Council’s Monitoring Officer, the need for Members to receive answers to questions outweighed the risk of any appearance of bias.