Liverpool City Council is set to agree a new set of rules for councillors and officers relating to dealing with developers following a damning inspection into the local authority.
Government inspector Max Caller delivered a brutal assessment of how parts of the council have been run in recent years - particularly the regeneration, planning and property management departments.
That inspection report - which has resulted in government commissioners being appointed to oversee those departments - raised various issues with how the council has interacted with and dealt with developers in the city.
The local authority has agreed to submit a wide-ranging improvement plan, much of which will be approved at tonight's Annual General Meeting of the council, which is being held at the Wavertree Tennis Centre.
The council will agree a new code of conduct and associated training for elected members and officers - including a specific code of practice for 'developer engagement.'
The draft plan states: "This Code of Practice provides a clear framework and guidelines for Elected Members and Officers in relation to invitations from applicants, developers, contractors, agents and investors to meet, sponsor and/or represent the Council, the City, or the Mayor, including at events (local, national and international), particularly in relation to the risks of perceived endorsement and too close an association in respect of the discharge and functions and responsibilities relating to planning, development, building control, licensing, and environment regulatory matters."
The new code's general principles include the idea that: "The City Council DOES NOT endorse any developers, contractors, agents or investors, or to specific developments, contracts or investments UNLESS a clearly defined framework and agreement is in place following completion of relevant due processes."
It states that offers of sponsorship, grants or 'anything that might be perceived as an incentive MUST NOT be accepted UNLESS the City Council’s due processes have been followed.'
The code states that developers, contractors, agents and investors must be made aware of the council’s due diligence process, which must be followed to progress any expressions of interest.
It also makes clear that no commercially sensitive, legally privileged or prejudicial information that could provide an unfair advantage to anyone is disclosed.
Max Caller's devastating report criticised city councillors for failing to keep their registers of gifts and hospitalities updated - and the new code says all such offers must be declared and registered properly, as well as all outside interests.
Undocumented meetings with developers were another key issue raised in the Caller Report - and there is a specific section dedicated to this in the new code.
It states that all elected members, when meeting with a developer, agent, contractor or investor, must ensure that an officer with responsibility for that area is present for the entire meeting and that a written record of the meeting and any discussions is kept.
The code adds that any potential conflicts of interest between councillors and developers or specific developments, contracts or investments must be declared and recorded and that any concerns about this not being done correctly should be reported under the council's new whistle-blowing policy.
The draft code adds: "Elected Members must ensure that City Council endorsement is not provided to any developers, contractors, agents or investors, or to specific developments, contracts or investments, unless there is an agreed and defined agreement in place that has been established following due process. This includes the use of Council logos and marketing information.
"Any proposed statements to the media must be approved in advance by the Council’s Communications Team."
The new code also has a number of general principles specifically for officers to adhere to.
This includes keeping full and accurate written records of any meetings with developers, agents or investors and says no commitments or decisions should be made at any meetings where forward approval needs to be obtained first.
The Caller Report made various references to bad practices within the council's regeneration department, including reports being 'retro-fitted' or added to after getting council approval, sometimes fundamentally changing what had been agreed.
The new code states: "No documents of any sort should be signed without formal approval in accordance with the Council’s Constitution and Scheme of Delegation.
"No emails or other correspondence are sent that appear to promote any matters discussed and that any such documents are clearly headed ‘subject to contract."
In terms of meetings with developers, the new code dictates that at least two officers must be present at face to face meetings, with written records kept of any discussions.
The new code of practice will be agreed at tonight's meeting along with a number of other measures the council is bringing in as a response to the Caller Report.
