Decision details

The Committee expressed the view that the expenditure was clearly unlawful for the reasons set out in the report. However, it was not content to pass a formal resolution to that effect because it felt very strongly that a representative from Bristol City Council should have attended the meeting to contribute to the debate and vote. It therefore

Resolved:-

To make no formal finding on unlawfulness and directed the Head of Paid Service to:-

i)              Invite the Authority’s external auditors to carefully consider the way in which this matter has proceeded, with particular reference to the existing statutory recommendations.

ii)             Implement a code of practice or protocol to be followed in all mayoral marketing and communications activity.

iii)           Carry on with the implementation of the corrective measures set out in the report and report progress on the same back to the Audit Committee.

iv)           Take a line by line report to the Audit Committee on spend against the mayoral budget in the 22/23 and 23/24 financial years in order to assist and inform the code of practice/protocol referred to in paragraph (ii) above and to inform organisational learning for the future.