Monitoring Officer Report Monitoring Officer Report April 2018 3 Pressure testing Welcome to our first Monitoring Officer Report, produced in association with Lawyers in Local Government (LLG). The role of the monitoring officer in local government has always been a crucial, varied and challenging one. But it is pretty clear that the pressures on those who carry out the role are growing thanks to a powerful combination of factors. Consider the changes to the standards regime introduced through the Localism Act, the reduction in resources as a result of cuts, the appetite among councils for greater risk, the new breed of public bodies such as combined authorities and local enterprise partnerships, the growth of social media…. the list goes on. Throw in reforms that have the effect of reducing protection for statutory officers and it is fair to conclude we live in interesting times. At Local Government Lawyer, we felt it was therefore a timely opportunity to carry out our latest piece of research. Some 111 monitoring officers took part in our survey, giving their views on a wide range of issues such as the qualifications, status and rewards for the role. In a couple of key areas, help is at hand. LLG has launched its Monitoring Officer Handbook as a go-to guide for its members, with content including the statutory obligations of the monitoring officer role, case studies and problem-solving thought pieces. The Committee on Standards in Public Life has meanwhile started a review of local government ethical standards, with a report due out later this year. While few people would want to go back to the flawed pre- Localism Act 2011 regime, there is clear demand amongst monitoring officers for a system with meaningful sanctions. It will be interesting to see whether the Committee backs change in this and other areas. A big thank you must go to LLG and our sponsors: Weightmans, Kennedy Cater and 11KBW. Philip Hoult, Editor philip.hoult@localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk Contents The heart of the matter, p4 Philip Hoult looks at the future of the monitoring officer role in the light of Local Government Lawyer’s exclusive survey of monitoring officers. Once more unto the breach, p12 The Committee on Standards in Public Life has launched a review of the Standards Regime instituted by the Localism Act. Philip Hoult finds that they will have much to consider. An impossible job? p14 Effective governance is under strain from austerity and its by- products of cuts, commercialisation and new means of delivery. Derek Bedlow hears from those at the front line at the Local Government Lawyer monitoring officer roundtable at Camden Town Hall. The power of the network, p20 Tim Morel looks at the importance of building connections between monitoring officers to ensure that they are supported when push comes to shove. A difficult job made harder? p22 Simon Goacher looks at the effect of changes to the Designated Independent Person (DIP) rules on the ability of monitoring officers to fulfil their role of ‘speaking truth unto power’. Local Government Lawyer www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk Editor Philip Hoult philip.hoult@localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk Publisher Derek Bedlow derek.bedlow@localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk Advertising Kate Coyne kate@localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk 01625 666 395