To approve as a correct record, the Minutes of the meeting of the Standards Committee held on 23 September 2011.

(attached)

RESOLVED

that the Minutes of the meeting of the Standards Committee held on the 23 September 2011 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 advise Members on the latest position realting 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.  The Monitoring Officer provided additional information about several cases which had not been available at the time the agenda was printed.

The Monitoring Officer informed the Committee about a recent hearing which had resulted in a technical breach by the Subject Member but no sanction applied as legal advice had been sought.  The Monitoring Officer advised that he would be issuing guidance to all Members of the Council advising that should the Town or Parish Council ,to which they were a member, submit a Planning Application then the Member would need to declare a personal interest and withdraw during the debate.  The Member would be allowed to speak at the public participation part of the meeting.

RESOLVED

that the Update on Current Standards Matters report be noted.

To consider and note the internal audit review of the Members Code of Conduct.

The Committee received and considered a report which provided the results of the Members’ Code of Conduct Internal Audit 2011/12.

The Monitoring Officer informed the Committee that the internal audit report had not raised any concerns over the processes in place for dealing with Members’ Code of Conduct issues.

It was noted that the report would be considered by the Audit Committee at a future meeting.

RESOLVED

that the Members’ Code of Conduct Internal Audit Report be noted.

To discuss suggestions for the reconfiguration of the Standards Committee after the Localism Bill comes into force.

The Monitoring Officer informed the Committee that there was to be a third reading of the Localism Bill on Monday 31 October 2011.  The Committee felt that it would be premature to discuss possible ways forward until the third reading had ocurred.  

The Vice-Chairman (Elected Member) had spoken to the Leader of the Council and it was possible that some committee could be amalgamated.  The Monitoring Officer provided an alternative which would be considered at the next Constitution Advisory Group (CAG) in December through the amalgamation of Audit, General Purposes, CAG and Standards.  These Committees would form a governance committee.

The Committee agreed to defer indepth discussion until the 6 January meeting however it was felt that for public confidence and to help prevent mistakes by Councils that independent people had to be involved in the process.