To approve as a correct record, the Minutes of the meeting of the Standards Committee held on 17 July 2009.

(previously circulated)

RESOLVED

that the Minutes of the meeting of the Standards Committee held on the 17 July 2009 be confirmed and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

To deal with general questions and statements from members of the public in accordance with the scheme of public participation set out in Annex 1 to Part A4 of the Constitution.

There were no applications from members of the public to speak under the Public Participation Procedure allowed for under Part A4 of the Constitution.

To request Members to confirm the appointment of Councillors John Lewis and Brian Saunders as the Town/Parish Council’s representatives on the Standards Committee.

The Committee received the report of the Monitoring Officer, requesting confirmation of the appointments of Cllr John Lewis and Cllr Brian Saunders as the Town/Parish Council’s representatives on the Standards Committee.

The composition of the Standards Committee comprises of:

Five elected members

Five independent persons and

Five members of Town and Parish Councils in the District.

Following the elections in June 2009, Ms J Rollings (Caddington & Slip End Parish Council) did not continue as a Parish Councillor.  A letter of resignation was received from Cllr Mrs K Curzon on 3 October 2009.  It was necessary to appoint two further Town and Parish Council Members to the Standards Committee.

The Monitoring Officer approached the Bedfordshire Association of Town and Parish Council (BATPC), the Chairman of Standards Committee and the Leader of the Council and it was agreed to approach Councillors who had remained on the selective list following interviews in February 2009.

Cllr John Lewis, of Potton Town Council, was a former Mid Bedfordshire District Councillor and had sat on the legacy authoritie’s Ethics and Standards Committee.  Cllr Brian Saunders was a long serving member of Stotfold Town Council and had been their Chairman between 2001 and 2008 and Vice-Chairman for the 9 year prior to becoming Chairman.

The Committee welcomed Cllr John Lewis and Cllr Brian Saunders.  In addition, it was requested that a letter of thanks be sent to Mrs Curzons and Mrs Rolllings for their service whilst members of the Committee.

RESOLVED

that the appointments of Cllr John Lewis and Cllr Brian Saunders as Town and Parish Members on the Standards Committee be approved.

To update the Committee on gifts and hospitality declared by Central Bedfordshire Council’s Members from June 2009 to October 2009.

The Committee received and considered the report of the Monitoring Officer, which provided an update on the gifts and hospitality declared by Central Bedfordshire Council’s Members from June 2009 to October 2009.

At the meeting of the Standards Committee on 17 July 2009, Members requested a summary of the gifts and hospitality declared.  The summary was attached to the report at Appendix ‘A’.  Cllr Street noted that his declaration of an outer jacket from the Combined Fire Authority was not listed but he confirmed had been registered and was showing on his register of interest online.

RESOLVED

that the declarations of gifts and hospitality received by Central Bedfordshire Members as set out at Appendix ‘A’ to this report, be noted.

To approve the wording of an article to be published in the Council’s News Central Magazine which is delivered to every household in the area.

The Committee received and considered the report of the Monitoring Officer which sought approval of the wording of an article to be published in the Council’s News Central Magazine which would be delivered to every household in the area.

Members considered the News Central article which would raise the profile of standards in Central Bedfordshire.  The article would include the new slogan which was approved later in the agenda (see minute no. STD/09/  ). 

Members also requested a number of changes including the addition of the sentence ‘The Standards Committee has an essential job to do in maintaining a robust ethical environment in which the Council can operate’.

It was agreed that there would be a follow up article at the end of the municipal year which would show how many assessments, reviews and hearings had been heard. 

RESOLVED

that the article which will be published in the Council’s News Central Magazine, be approved, subject to the changes highlighted in the preamble above.

To adopt a slogan to be used in respect of the promotion of the work of the Standards Committee within Central Bedfordshire Council.

The Committee considered the report of the Monitoring Officer which requested consideration of the adoption of a slogan to be used in respect of the promotion of the work of the Standards Committee within Central Bedfordshire Council.

Members will recall that both Central Bedfordshire Council and Town and Parish Council training sessions workshops were held and suggestions were received and a list of the suitable slogans were attached to the report at Appendix ‘A’. 

The Committee nominated four phrases for consideration and voting, they were the following:

• Standards Matter
• Simply Standards
• Excel with Standards
• Maintaining Standards

A vote was taken and the clear winner was ‘Standards Matter’.

RESOLVED

that the slogan ‘Standards Matter‘ to promote standards within Central Bedfordshire from the list set out in Appendix ‘A’ to the report of the Monitoring Officer, be adopted.

To provide Members with an update advice note that has been issued to all Central Bedfordshire Council Members.

The Committee received the report of the Monitoring Officer which provided an update advice note that has been issued to all Central Bedfordshire Council Members.

Over the last year a review of the outside bodies for the three legacy authorities has been carried out.  Three databases were combined  with 200 organisations being reviewed. 

In November 2008 the Group Leaders received a listing and asked to make appointments from 1 April to June 2009.  Following the elections in June 2009 an additional report went to Council and a final verion was completed on 30 July 2009 by the Group Leaders. 

The appendix to the report was a ‘best practice guide’.  It was noted that any development of a policy would be considered by the General Purposes Committee, which would include a definition of outside bodies, establishment of a criteria for appointments and nominations, generalised advice on the roles and responsibilities and lastly address governance issues.

RESOLVED

that the guidance for outside bodies as detailed in Appendix ‘A’ to the report of the Monitoring Officer be noted.

To advise Members of the latest position relating Assessments, Reviews and Hearings.

The Committee received the report of the Monitoring Officer which advised Members on the latest position relating to Assessment, Reviews and Hearings.

The Monitoring Officer informed the Committee that this would be a regular report which details the current reviews and hearings.  Members noted the update on several cases listed in Appendix A.

In response to a query it was confirmed that the item which was referred for investigation in July had included interviewing 8 witnesses.  The Investigating Officer’s report was due by the end of November.

RESOLVED

that the update on Current Standards Committee Matters as attached at Appendix ‘A’ to the report of the Monitoring Officer, be noted.

To draw to Members’ attention the latest Bulletin issued by the Standards for England.

The Committee received and considered the report of the Monitoring Officer, which drew to Members’ attention the latest Bulletin issued by the Standards for England.

It was noted that the outcome of the review of the Code of Conduct was scheduled for January 2010.

The Adjudication Panel had been renamed as the ‘General Regulatory Chamber’.

RESOLVED

that the Standards Bulletin No. 45 as attached to the report of the Monitoring Officer, be noted.

To update Members on the attendance at the Annual Assembly of Standards for England at their Conference on 12 and 13 October 2009.

The Committee received the report of the Monitoring Officer which provided an update on the attendance at the Annual Assembly of the Standards for England at their Conference on 12 and 13 October 2009.

The Committee received also the comments from both Brian Collier and Ken Frazer, who had also attended the conference.

It was noted that a typographical error was listed under the Financial section of the Corporate Implications, it stated ‘four’ instead of ‘two’ delegates.

RESOLVED

that the report attached at Appendix ‘A’ in respect of attendance at the Standards for England Annual Assembly Conference on 12 and 13 October 2009 in Birmingham, be noted.

To draw to Members’ attention the training delivered to Central Bedfordshire Members and Town and Parish Councils and feedback received.

The Committee received and  considered the report of the Monitoring Officer which drew to Members’ attention the training delivered to Central Bedfordshire Members and Town and Parish Councils and the feedback received.

The Monitoring Officer thanked the Chairman and Vice-Chairman (Independent Member) for their support at the Town and Parish Council training events.  The event helped to develop contacts with the Town and Parish Councils and it was noted that the message had been delivered successfully.

Work with the Bedfordshire Association of Town and Parish Councils (BATPC) was underway and training will be delivered between January and March 2010.

The Chairman confirmed to the Committee that the sessions had been well appreciated and the Monitoring Officer had done a great job as trainer.

RESOLVED

that the report attached at Appendix ‘A’, in respect of the training delivered and feedback received, to the report of the Monitoring Officer, be noted.

To view and discuss the recently issued training DVD from Standards for England.

The Committee watched a DVD from Standards for England which provided an overview of the Standards Assessment process.