Bournemouth councillors under fire over gifts (From Thisisdorset)

Bournemouth councillors under fire over gifts

8:00am Thursday 17th December 2009

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A SENIOR councillor has slammed the “double standards” of Town Hall bosses who have banned a disabled pensioner from giving her carers £4.99 Christmas presents.

The Daily Echo revealed yesterday how Norma Cail, 66, who is confined to a wheelchair, had received a letter stating that council employees are not allowed to receive personal gifts.

We have now discovered that the same rule applies to every other member of council staff, including refuse workers, office staff, social workers and parks department employees.

However, elected councillors are allowed to accept gifts of up to £25 without declaring them.

Norma, who lives in sheltered accommodation in Boscombe, had bought writing sets for her three main carers when she was informed that festive gifts were banned.

Cllr Ron Whittaker said: “This is bureaucracy gone mad. Every Christmas I buy small presents like sweets and chocolate for the democratic services department staff.

“It’s my way of saying thank you for their help during the year; why shouldn’t Norma be allowed to do the same?

“I know other councillors who do the same and none of our gifts have ever been refused. After all, it’s meant to be the season of goodwill.”

He added: “It appears there’s one rule for us and one rule for everybody else. Councillors can accept gifts up to the value of £25 without declaring them to our monitoring officer. A lady sent me £10 to show her appreciation and I put it in the mayor’s charity fund.

“(Norma Cail) should still pass on the presents she had bought for her carers.”

Cllr Whittaker has contacted the council’s chief executive, Pam Donnellan, in a bid to get the ban on staff gifts lifted. He said: “Common sense should prevail.”

Cllr Phil Stanley-Watts agreed. He said: “This rule is daft and should be changed.

“(Norma Cail) should be allowed to give her carers small festive gifts; it’s in the spirit of Christmas.”

Earlier this year new rules on gifts and hospitality for council workers were agreed.

While an offer of a drink following a site inspection and an invitation to functions and working lunches are acceptable, nightclub visits, holidays, personal dinner invitations, theatre tickets and use of a company flat have been ruled out.

The list of councillors’ declared gifts for 2008 includes ice show tickets, Christmas food and complimentary drinks.

Council leader Stephen MacLoughlin declared dinner at Beaulieu and two £40 tickets for he and his wife at a Dorset Rocks concert at the Royal Albert Hall.

Joy Postings, service director for law and corporate governance, said: “The policy on gifts and hospitality in the Code of Conduct for the council’s employees is not unique to Bournemouth.

“Members are not employees of the council. They follow the national code of conduct which states that any gifts received with an estimated value of at least £25 must be declared. The declarations are open to public inspection, to support openness and transparency.”

A Dorset County Council spokesman said: “The council doesn’t have a problem with staff accepting small gifts such as a box of chocolates. With anything more substantial, staff must check with managers and take advice. More substantial gifts must be registered.”

Poole council’s gift policy allows employees to accept gifts so long as they could not, do not, or appear to, place that employee under an obligation, and could not be construed as an incentive or reward.

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