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Members meeting 17 March 2008
Present:
B2L Public Affairs (Darren Caplan)
Citigate Dewe Rogerson (Simon Nayyar)
Cogitamus (Paul Beckford)
College Public Policy (Warwick Smith)
Connect Public Affairs (Gill Morris (Chair))
Edelman (Michael Burrell)
Fishburn Hedges (Lucy Burns)
Fleishman Hillard (Aiofe Kilkenny)
Foresight (Mark Adams)
Hill & Knowlton (Lalu Dasgupta)
JMC (Richard Berry)
Precise Public Affairs (Robbie MacDuff)
Weber Shandwick (Samina Ansari)
APPC (Mary Shearer (Secretary))
Apologies:
Consolidated
Grayling
Lexington
Mandate
PPS
1. Minutes of the Previous Meeting
Members approved the minutes of the meeting held on 3 December 2007. There were no matters arising.
2. Membership
The Chair reported that, since the last meeting, two new members had joined (Cavendish Communications and Political Dimension) bringing the number of members to 55.
3. PASC Inquiry
The Chair reported that APPC had given evidence together with PRCA and CIPR GAG. A subsequent hearing had involved Bell Pottinger, DLA and Luther Pendragon, and she had written to DLA (copied to PASC members) inviting them to substantiate allegations made at the hearing that APPC members did not complete their Register entries fully.
The focus of the Inquiry was not yet clear. It was behind schedule and it was difficult to know the timetable. The key issues for APPC were whether the Committee would recommend a statutory register and if there would be a distinction made between in-house and commercial lobbyists.
It was agreed to defer a decision on whether to put in additional evidence and to see how the Inquiry progressed.
4. Compliance Issues
Warwick Smith reported on the meeting of members’ compliance officers held on 20 November, which had resulted in a recommendation to review the APPC Complaints Procedures. He tabled a flow chart showing the principal amendments and outlined the proposed changes:
· Portal on the APPC website
· Shorter time scale
· Management Committee role in actively policing reports of a breach
· Initial consideration by a single “Adjudicator” within five days of receipt who could deal with a complaint in three ways – acting alone where the breach is “obvious and admitted”; by arbitration at the choice of either the Management Committee or the member; by reference to the Professional Practices Panel
· Sanctions would include a finding, censure or suspension, but not expulsion from APPC
He noted that the role and proceedings of the Professional Practices Panel would remain unchanged.
Members broadly approved the proposals and made comments on the details, including terms of suspension, the proposed Adjudicator, arbitration, time frame and, in particular, the difficulty of keeping a complaint confidential.
It was agreed that the flow chart should be revised with notes added on how the procedure would work in practice and circulated for members’ comments.
Action: Warwick Smith
5. Code of Conduct
Members considered proposed amendments to the Code of Conduct. It was agreed to amend the Code to emphasise that only fee-paying clients should be declared in the Register. It was further agreed that the proposed amendments to clauses 8 and 10 were unnecessary as the proposed prohibitions were already covered by the current wording. It was also agreed that the Management Committee should look again at the treatment of the GLA.
Action: Secretary to amend and circulate the Code
Action: Management Committee to review GLA provisions
6. Guiding Principles
The Chair reported on plans to hold a “round table” meeting with the Law Society, TUC, etc. She envisaged up to 40-50 people and said she would proceed with finalising the format and guest list. It was agreed not to invite the media. As regards timing, it was agreed that it should not depend on the progress of the PASC Inquiry.
Action: Chair
7. PPERA
The meeting approved revised guidelines for members, subject to adding a specific reference to the fact that political consultants must not make donations on behalf of clients. It was noted that the intention was to try to obtain clearance of the guidelines by the Electoral Commission.
Action: Gavin Devine
8. APPC in Scotland
In the absence of Jo Nove, there was no report.
9. Any Other Business
9.1 FOI Enquiries by The Guardian and The Times
The Chair noted that there had been one minor article in The Guardian but nothing in The Times.
9.2 Training
The Secretary reported on a very well-attended Code training seminar held on 10 March, kindly hosted by Hill & Knowlton.
9.3 Membership of the Management Committee
Referring to the amendment to the Articles of Association passed by the EGM, the Secretary said that there would be additional places available on the Management Committee after the AGM on 12 May and that she would circulate details of nomination procedures.
9.4 Judge Business School
Robbie MacDuff reported that he had agreed to meet a Chinese delegation organised by the Judge Business School. Members agreed that such a meeting would not imply APPC support or otherwise for the Chinese Government.
Date of Next Meeting
12 May 2008 at Connect, Millbank Tower, Millbank, London SW1P 4QP
immediately following the AGM at 5.30pm