Agenda and minutes

Members are asked to declare any interests they may have in the business on the agenda, and/or indicate that Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 applies to them.

Members were asked to declare any interests they might have in the business to be discussed, and/or indicate that Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 applied to them.

No such declarations were made at this time.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 30 June 2004 area attached and it is requested that they be confirmed as a correct record.

RESOLVED:

that the Minutes of the meeting held on 30 June 2004,as entered in the Minute Book on pages 1-3, inclusive, copies of which had been circulated to Members, be received, taken as read, and signed by the Chair as a correct record, subject to the following :

a) Standards Board Conference

Caroline Roberts reported that she had attended the recent Standards Board Conference, and had found the speeches both useful and informative.

She undertook to bring a report back to the November 2004 meeting.

b)Press Release

Members enquired about their request for a press release to be

prepared on the work of the Standards Committee.

They were assured that this had been prepared, and would be

processed by the Communications Unit.

The Director of Resources, Access and Diversity submits a report that will enable the Committee to be aware of, and engage in the Authority’s Corporate Governance arrangements.

The Director of Resources, Access, and Diversity submitted a report concerning the Authority’s Corporate Governance arrangements.

The report explained that an annual review of the Corporate Code of Governance had been carried out for 2003/2004, and the outcome had been summarised in Appendix 1.

RESOLVED :

that the Authority’s Corporate Governance arrangements, including the Annual Report for 2003/2004, be noted.

The Town Clerk submits a report that seeks recommendations for the Council on unresolved issues relating to the Council’s Political Conventions, as set out in the schedule appended to the report.

The Town Clerk submitted a report which sought comments on unresolved issues about the Political Conventions.

Members were circulated with the Minutes of the Procedures Working Party held on 27 September 2004,which had made the following comments :-

a)            Respect and Courtesy between Councillors and Officers:

that the Protocols relating to Member conduct  at meetings be not formally adopted as Conventions, but be implemented as guidance.

b)            Development Control Decisions:

that the procedure as reported be recommended to Council.

c)            Staff Lobbying Councillors:

            that the existing Convention be retained for the time being.

d)            Property Discussions and Negotiations:

            that the Protocol reported be adopted as guidance.

e)            Non-Ward Member Involvement in Planning Applications:

that Officers look into various interest issues relating to non-Ward Councillors representing applicants outside their Ward, and report back on whether this should take the form of guidance or a Convention.

RESOLVED :

that these suggestions be noted and supported by the Standards Committee.

The Town Clerk submits a report that seeks the views of the Committee on the two consultation documents produced by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

The Town Clerk submitted a report which sought views on two consultation documents produced by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

These were :

a)         Draft Code of Conduct for Local Government Employees

b)         A Review of Restrictions on the Political Activities of Local Authority Employees and Pay of Political Assistants

Comments had been sought by 19 November 2004, and copies of the full

consultation papers were attached to the report.

RESOLVED :

1)that comments on the consultation document be included in the Council’s submission to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister; and

2)that Members of the Standards Committee seek agreement to their attendance at the meeting of the Resources and Equal Opportunities Scrutiny Committee on 21 October 2004, when the consultation documents would receive consideration.

The Town Clerk to brief Members on the current number and nature of complaints against Elected Members.

The Town Clerk briefed Members on the current number and nature of complaints made against Elected Members.

RESOLVED ;

                        that the information be noted.

The Chair declared the meeting closed at 6.51.pm.