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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.