Meeting documents

Standards Committee
Tuesday 29 March 2005 4.00 pm

Date:
Tuesday, 29th March, 2005
Time:
4.00 pm
Place:
Committee Room, Civic Centre, Arnot Hill Park, Arnold
 

Attendance Details

ItemDescriptionResolution
8 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE.
Business for item 8
 
9 TO APPROVE AS A CORRECT RECORD THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 29 OCTOBER 2004.
 RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the above meeting be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.
10 DECLARATION OF INTERESTS.
Business for item 10
 
11 REPORTS OF HEAD OF LEGAL AND DEMOCRATIC SERVICES
Business for item 11
1.Review of the Members Code of Conduct

RESOLVED:

That further consideration be given to the Consultation paper at the next meeting.

2.Standards Board Annual Conference

RESOLVED:

That member attendance be further considered at the next meeting.

3.Future Work Load

RESOLVED:

That small working groups be formed to meet for discussions with the Parish Clerk and Chairman of each Parish Council.
12 ANY OTHER ITEMS WHICH THE CHAIRMAN CONSIDERS URGENT.
Business for item 12
 
The meeting closed at 5.35 pm.

Attendance Details

Present:
J.P Lesquereux (Chairman), P.G. Barnes, F.J.D. Boot (a), C.N.F.W. Pratt, J.R. Baggaley, G.D Proctor, G Wallis (a)

Business

Business
ItemBusiness
8Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Boot and Mr G Wallis.
10None
11The Head of Legal and Democratic Services submitted a report comprising the following items

1.Review of the Members Code of Conduct

It was reported that the the Standards Board for England was undertaking a review of the Code of Conduct and had issued a consultation document. The document was attached at Appendix 1. The Committee considered their response to the consultation exercise.

2.Standards Board Annual Conference

The Standards Board Fourth Annual Conference would be held on September 5 and 6 September, 2005.

Members were requested to consider nomination of a delegate to the Conference.

3.Future Work Load

It was reported that the Standards Committee's remit was included in the Council's Constitution. A copy was submitted at Appendix 2 for ease of reference. Members were requested to consider the workload for the Committee for the coming year and in particular the following issues were suggested for consideration:

(a) Member training.
(b) Member/Officer Protocol - a model protocol published by the Association of Council Secretaries and Solicitors was attached at Appendix 3 for information;
(c) Licensing Act Committee Members' Protocol.
(d) Parish Council issues.
(e) Role and profile of the Standards Committee with particular reference to Members and the public.

Information Items

4. Standards Board Investigations

It was reported that two Parish Councillors had been reported to the Standards Board for failure to complete the form of Register of Interests.

The Ethical Standards Officer had concluded in one case that there had been a failure to comply with the Code but that no action was required because the Councillor had resigned.
In the other case, the Ethical Standards Officer had found that the form of Interests had not been returned within the 28 days of appointment but that no action need be taken provided the form was then completed and lodged with the Borough Council. This had subsequently been done.
12None.