Procurement and the Confidential Reporting Policy
The Council has a Confidential Reporting (Whistle-blowing)
Policy which sets out the responsibilities of officers and
action to be taken in cases of theft, corruption, irregularity, or
when damage is suspected.
This Policy applies to all employees and those contractors
working for the Council on Council premises, for example, agency
staff, builders, drivers. It also covers suppliers and those
providing services under a contract with the Council in their own
premises and provides a mechanism to report suspected wrong
doings confidentially and for these reasons this Policy also forms
part of our internal Procurement Code of Practice.
The Confidential Reporting Policy is intended to cover major
concerns that fall outside the scope of other procedures - these
include:
- Conduct which is an offence or breach of law.
- Disclosures related to miscarriages of justice.
- Health and safety risks, including risks to the public as well
as other employees.
- Damage to the environment.
- The unauthorised use of public funds.
- Possible fraud and corruption.
- Sexual or physical abuse of clients.
- Other unethical conduct.
These procedures are in addition to the Council's Complaints
procedures and other statutory reporting procedures applying to
some departments. The contracting Officer is responsible for making
service users aware of the existence of these procedures and in the
event of such an issue, an investigation would be carried out and
action taken as necessary.