Part 5 - Appendix 2 - Protocol on the relationship between Officers and Members of Gloucestershire County Council
Appendix 2 - protocol on the relationship between Officers and Members of Gloucestershire County Council of the Code of Conduct for Employees.
- Introduction
- The role of elected Members - The role of County Councillors as Members of full Council and Council bodies
- The standing of County Councillors as individual Members of the Council
- Other roles of County Councillors
- The role of Officers - The role of Officers in the course of their employment
- Contact between Officers and Members other than in the course of Officers’ employment
- Sources of difficulty
- Political neutrality - Supporting the work of the Council
- Lobbying Members
- Giving advice and providing information
- Confidentiality
- Dealing with the Press
- Member pressure on Officers
- Blurring of Officers and Members public and private roles
- The role of Group Leaders and senior Officers
- Conclusion
- The County Council will not function effectively unless elected Members of the Authority and its paid Officers are able to establish and maintain a business-like and harmonious working relationship that is based on trust and on mutual respect for each other. This is not always easy. The business of the Council touches upon many sensitive and emotive issues. Modernisation has placed Officers and Members under increased scrutiny, demanded many changes to working practices and raised public expectations about the quality of the Council’s services. These pressures inevitably create stresses and tensions between Officers and Members, which can undermine good working relationships. It is therefore important to minimise the risk of misunderstandings and to ensure that when difficulties do arise, a framework exists within which they may be resolved.
- The purpose of this protocol is, therefore, to help foster a clear understanding of Officers’ and Members’ roles, and to lay down guidelines on what each may expect from the other. The protocol does not and indeed, cannot, cover every eventuality; the sheer variety of the Council’s work makes that impossible. Instead, it is intended to strengthen existing good practice and address issues that arise most often. The guidance also provides advice on how to deal with difficulties that do arise, fairly and swiftly, so that the level of trust and mutual respect that is required to enable the Council to function effectively is maintained.
Page updated:
12/10/2020