New anti-fraud strategy for council and developers

A new strategy hopes to improve the relationship between Liverpool councillors and property developers, in efforts to crack down on corruption.

According to documents released by the city council, elected members will be given guidance on “the behaviour expected” when dealing with external partners.

The papers, which are set to be endorsed by the authority’s standard and ethics committee next week, said when dealing with developers, councillors must adhere to its anti-fraud and corruption strategy.

The council’s relationship with property developers has been under scrutiny since the introduction of Operation Aloft, an investigation into allegations of fraud, bribery and corruption linked to building and development contracts in the city.

The documents said the city council is “under a duty to promote and maintain high standards of conduct by its councillors.”, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The new protocol, should it be adopted, would provide a “clear framework and guidelines” for members when dealing with with applicants, developers, contractors, agents and investors.

The paperwork said this was particularly in relation to the risks of “perceived endorsement and too close an association in respect of the discharge of functions and responsibilities relating to planning, development, building control, licensing, and environment regulatory matters”.

The protocol will assist councillors in “understanding the behaviour that is expected of you when dealing with developers, to provide a personal check and balance, and to set out the type of conduct that could lead to action being taken against you”.

Additionally the council does not endorse any developers “except following compliance with the correct decision-making and/or selection process”.

All offers of gifts or hospitality and any interests must be declared and registered in accordance with the requirements of the code of conduct and where such an interest is identified, members “must take all steps to exclude their participation in any continued discussions or decision-making, usually by requesting a substitute”.

All approaches or contact by developers should be referred immediately to the relevant council team, it said.

Meetings with developers could only take place on an “exceptional basis” and must be in the presence of a relevant officer.

The policy will be considered by the standards and ethics committee when it meets at Liverpool town hall next week.