Bracknell councilors are to carry out criminal record checks

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks are carried out on all councillors, co-opted members and mayoral consorts to “increase public confidence in local government”.

This came after an independent government review recommended that authorities such as Bracknell Forest introduce checks for elected officials who deal with the care of children and vulnerable adults.

The Simon Bailey Review, published in January this year, recommended that unitary and senior authorities introduce controls as best practice before formal legislation was passed.

Mr Bailey noted there was “no consistent practice” among councils and some were not receiving checks at all.

No law has yet been passed, making Bracknell Forest one of the first authorities to adopt the policy itself.

A decision to introduce the controls was taken at a Bracknell Forest Council cabinet meeting on Tuesday, October 15.

Introducing the agenda item, council leader Mary Temperton said it “should be there all the time”.

Councilor Temperton said: “Every resident assumes that we have checks when we go into their houses, talk to them on the street or talk to their children.”

Councilor Iskandar Jefferies, cabinet member for leisure, culture, public protection and democracy, said: “Although it is not a legal requirement, it sets the tone for other districts or councils that are not already doing this.”

“It is a very important step forward in protecting our residents and as elected members of the public it is very important that we can show that we are good, upstanding individuals in the community.”

Councilor Guy Gillbe agreed the public will be “astonished” there are no checks in place yet.

He said: “We are really pioneers; We are one of the first councils to take this on.”

A draft policy states that while basic DBS checks will be required for all council members, enhanced checks will be carried out for those who are elected members of children’s and adults’ committees.

These include cabinet members, members of the Overview and Control Commission for Health and Care and members of the Overview and Control Commission.

Essential checks should be carried out within 28 days of their election, followed by an inspection every 12 months while councilors remain in office.

Extended checks will be carried out, including 14 days after appointment to a role on proposed committees.