BABERGH DISTRICT COUNCIL
STANDARDS COMMITTEE
MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE STANDARDS COMMITTEE HELD IN COMMITTEE ROOM 1, COUNCIL OFFICES, CORKS LANE, HADLEIGH ON FRIDAY, 8 APRIL 2011
Quick Links
41 - Declaration of Interests
42 - Minutes
43 - Petitions
44 - Questions from Members
45 - Annual Report of the Standards Committee
46 - Review of Code of Conduct Complaint 2010/11
47 - Internal Audit Report on Members Declaration of Interests and Gifts and Hospitality
48 - Members' Code of Conduct Case Reports
49 - The Localism Bill
50 - Future Arrangements of Standards Committee
51 - Training for Councillors
52 - Observations of Proceedings at Committee Meetings
53 - Quarterly Monitoring Report - January to March 2011
54 - Work Plan
55 - Date of Next Meeting
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PRESENT: |
Members |
Co-opted Members |
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Mr P Jones
Mr R E Kemp
Mr A F D W Osborne |
Miss P F Cook
Mr P J Down
Mr R L Feltwell
Mr A George
Mrs T Kavvadias
Mr J G Watson (Chairman) |
Mrs S P Clarke was unable to be present.
Miss P F Cook subsequently declared a personal interest in Minute No. 46 as she is a Member of Hadleigh Town Council and two of the Members referred to in this item were also Members of the Hadleigh Town Council. She indicated that her interest was such that she was able to speak and vote on the matter.
RESOLVED
That the Minutes of the meeting held on 21 January 2011 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.
None received.
None received.
The Monitoring Officer submitted a report (Paper K226) outlining a review of the work of the Standards Committee for 2010/11 which would be the subject of a report to Council.
In paragraph 7.22 of Paper K226 it was noted that the word “not” should be inserted before the word “been”.
Members agreed that the report be submitted to the Council meeting subject to the addition of a section at paragraph 7.4 (with subsequent renumbering) relating to Standards Committee Members observation of proceedings at Committee meetings.
RESOLVED
That the Monitoring Officer be authorised to submit a report to Council on the work of the Standards Committee for 2010/11 based on Paper K226 subject to the amendments as referred to above being incorporated.
The Monitoring Officer introduced Paper K227 on the number, type and outcome of complaints considered by the Standards Committee in 2010/11 and to identify any learning points or measures that should be taken to avoid future complaints or improve how complaints are handled.
It was noted that there had been three complaints against District Councillors and none against Parish Councillors.
RESOLVED
(1) That the contents of the table included in paragraph 7.1 of Paper K227 be noted.
(2) That careful consideration be given relating to any future complaint as to whether a request for a Member to commit to mediation should be the recommended action.
The Monitoring Officer submitted a report (Paper K228) relating to the outcome of the Councils internal audit report on Members declaration on interests and gifts and hospitality.
The Committee were satisfied that all legal requirements had been met and congratulated the officers concerned.
RESOLVED
That the content of the internal audit report on Members declaration of interests and gifts and hospitality attached as Appendix 1 to Paper K228 be noted.
The Monitoring Officer presented a report (Paper K229) on the details of recent cases decided by the First-tier Tribunal (Local Government Standards in England) arising out of the investigation of alleged breaches of the Members’ Code of Conduct.
RESOLVED
That the information contained in Paper K229 be noted.
The Monitoring Officer gave a verbal update on the latest position regarding the Localism Bill and it was noted that it was still going through the Committee stage at Parliament.
RESOLVED
That the position be noted.
The Chairman of the Committee referred to Paper K230, a letter from the Chairman of the Suffolk County Council Standards Committee inviting representatives from Babergh District Council to a meeting to discuss possible changes in the Standards regime of all Local Authorities.
RESOLVED
That the Chairman of the Standards Committee and the Monitoring Officer be appointed as the Babergh District Council representatives to attend the meeting to discuss future Standards arrangements in Suffolk.
The Monitoring Officer gave a verbal update to the meeting of proposals for training of Councillors. She indicated that SALC are not intending to do training before the Localism Bill is enacted.
The Monitoring Officer advised that Code of Conduct training would be offered to all new District Council Members. Re-elected Members would be provided with refresher training notes on the Code of Conduct and be asked to certify that the notes have been read by completing a tear-off strip.
During consideration of this matter it was agreed that the Monitoring Officer should send a letter to Parish/Town Clerks asking them to remind Councillors that in signing the Declaration of Acceptance of Office Councillors agree to abide by the 2007 Code of Conduct which still remains in force. Councillors should therefore be familiar with the Code.
RESOLVED
That the position be noted.
The Co-opted Members of the Committee reported on their attendance at recent Committee and Council meetings. No matters of concern were raised.
The Monitoring Officer then reported the outcome of a matter which had been mentioned at a previous meeting relating to remarks made by an individual Member towards a Member of staff during a meeting of the Full Council on 19 October 2010. The Monitoring Officer had spoken to the Member concerned who had apologised to the Officer and the apology had been accepted.
RESOLVED
That the position be noted.
The Director of Corporate Services submitted a report (Paper K231) containing details of interests and gifts declared by Members and Officers during the period from January to March 2011.
It was noted that there had been no complaints received about Councillors conduct during that period.
Mr Osborne informed the meeting that the Overview and Scrutiny (Community Services) Committee Minute No. 44 should be amended as he was not serving on the Board of Directors of the Quay Theatre.
RESOLVED
That the information contained in Paper K231 (as amended) be noted.
The Committee received a report from the Monitoring Officer (Paper K232) setting out the Committee’s Work Plan.
It was suggested that an item on the consideration of a Joint Standards Committee should also be considered at the next meeting.
RESOLVED
That the Work Plan set out in Paper K232 (as amended) be noted.
It was reported that the Committee’s next meeting was scheduled to take place on Friday 1 July 2011.
RESOLVED
That the date be noted.
Notes: (1) At the conclusion of the meeting, which is the last before Full District Council elections are held in May 2011, the Chairman gave thanks to Mrs S P Clarke, who was not standing for re-election, but who was the first Chairman of the Standards Committee and a Standards Committee Member for a number of years.
(2) The Committee requested that the thanks of the Committee for the work undertaken by the Chairman be recorded.
The business of the meeting was concluded at 10.35 a.m.
Chairman
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