Staff to be encouraged to call out wrong doing

Council workers are being encouraged to speak up where they see wrong doing in their local authority.
Members of Conwy Council’s finance committee meeting on Monday are set to approve a new whistle blower policy.
The policy encourages employees and others who have serious concerns
about any aspect of the council’s work to come forward “in good faith” and disclose them at the earliest opportunity so that they can be properly investigated.
Cllr Emma Leighton-Jones, the cabinet member responsible for modernisation said: “Whistleblowing is viewed by this council as a positive act that can make a valuable contribution to the council’s efficiency and long-term success.
“It is not disloyal to colleagues or the council to speak up. The council is
committed to achieving the highest possible standards of service and the
highest possible ethical standards in public life and in all of its practices.
freedom of speech without fear of victimisation or harassment is vital to
achieve these standards and this policy is pivotal in providing the
framework for this.”
The new policy will include more safeguarding for those who want to alert authorities to wrong doing.
It will also be made easier for council staff to flag up problems anonymously through the whistle blowing exercise and there will be easy access for staff to the policy.

By Shane Brennan – Local Democracy Reporter