To approve as a correct record, the Minutes of the meeting of the Standards Committee held on 14 May 2010.

(previously circulated)

RESOLVED

that the Minutes of the meeting of the Standards Committee held on the 14 May 2010 were confirmed and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

Members acknowledged that there was not an opportunity on the agenda to discuss matters arising from the minutes.  Members were advised that it was not the Council’s protocol to include such an item on the agenda.  It was agreed that there should be a standing item for Chairman’s Announcements and Communication.

Members welcomed the Head of Legal and Democratic Services to the meeting.  Mr Atkinson had recently been appointed to the role of Head of Legal and Democratic Services, and would be the Authority’s statutory Monitoring Officer.  The Chairman agreed to send a letter on behalf of the Standards Committee to the previous Monitoring Officer thanking Mrs Morris for her hard work and support.

Members commented on minute STD/10/7 where it referred to Committee members attending Town and Parish Council meetings and the Monitoring Officer writing a letter to the BTPCA to inform them that members of the Standards Committee may attend various Town and Parish Council meetings during the next Municipal Year.  The Monitoring Officer agreed to compile a list of Town and Parish Councils that had been subject to a complaint since the creation of Central Bedfordshire Council and email this to the Members of the Standards Committee to enable them to co-ordinate visits to these authorities.

Members were updated on minute STD/10/11 that the Standards for England Assembly to be held on 18-19 October 2010 had been cancelled following the Government’s announcement of its intention to abolish Standards Board regime.

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 receive petitions in accordance with the scheme of public participation set out in Annex 2 in Part A4 of the Constitution.

No petitions were received from members of the public in accordance with the Public Participation Procedure as set out in Annex 2 of Part A4 of the Constitution.

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

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

The Monitoring Officer highlighted the main points of interest within the bulletin as follows:-

The Future of Standards for England and the Standards Framework was still unknown.  Members acknowledged that the legislation to abolish Standards for England would be included in the planned Decentralisation and Localism Bill which was due to be presented in late 2010, with Royal Assent anticipated between July and October 2011.  This would likely lead to the final closure of Standards for England sometime between 31 December 2011 and 31 March 2012.  It was anticipated that further details would be known by the next Standards Committee scheduled for 21 January 2010.  Members agreed that if the Government consulted on the Bill and a response was needed before the next meeting, then this would be circulated to members of the Standards Committee via email.

Members raised several queries that would need to be addressed once further information was known such as the reappointment of independent members, the frequency of the Standard Committee meetings and training.

NOTED

the Standards Board Bulletin no. 48.

To update the Committee on gifts and hospitality declared by Central Bedfordshire Councils Members from May to October 2010.

Members received the report of the Monitoring Officer which provided an update on gifts and hospitality declared by Central Bedfordshire Members since the last meeting.

NOTED

the declarations of gifts and hospitality received by Central Bedfordshire Members as set out at Appendix A to the report of the Monitoring Officer.

To advise Members on the latest position relating Assessment, Reviews and Hearings.

The Committee considered the report of the Monitoring Officer which advised Members of the latest position relating to Assessments, Reviews and Hearings.

The Committee and Officers were thanked for their time and consideration of the cases to date.  Since the creation of Central Bedfordshire Council there had been an increase in the number of complaints. 

Members discussed the fact that one or two Parish Councils had been the subject of several complaints and questioned whether there were any solutions.  A solution had been offered to one council to prevent further problems but this offer was not taken up.

Members noted that an appeal against a Standards Committee decision had been submitted to Standards in England.  The Tribunal had partly upheld the appeal but agreed that the member concerned had breached the Code of Conduct and also endorsed the sanction that was imposed by the Standards Committee.

NOTED

the report of the Monitoring Officer.