To appoint a Chairman for the meeting.

RESOLVED

that Councillor R C Stay be appointed Chairman of the Sub-Committee for this meeting only.

To receive from Members any declarations of interest.

There were no declarations of interest.

To consider whether to pass a resolution under section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972 to exclude the Press and Public from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that the consideration of the item is likely to involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 1 of Part I of Schedule 12A of the Act.

RESOLVED

that in accordance with Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972 the Press and Public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that consideration of the item is likely to involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

To consider and review a report by the investigating officer into a complaint against a Northill Parish Councillor.

The Sub-Committee considered and reviewed a report by the Council’s Investigating Officer into a number of complaints against a Northill Parish Councillor.  Whilst the report had recommended that the Monitoring Officer should seek a local resolution to the complaints the Monitoring Officer informed the meeting of issues which indicated that further examination, and possible action beyond that recommended by the Investigating Officer, was required.

Having fully discussed all aspects of the information before them Members concurred with the views expressed by the Monitoring Officer and indicated their support for a public hearing to be held into the complaints.

RESOLVED

1          that the local resolution of the complaints against the Northill Parish Councillor, as referred to in the report of the Council’s Investigating Officer, is not considered appropriate;

2          that the Standards Sub-Committee conduct a public hearing into the complaints made against the Parish Councillor before deciding whether that Member has failed to comply with the adopted Code of Conduct and, if so, whether to take any action in respect of this matter;

3          that the following persons be invited to attend the hearing to give evidence:

·         the Independent Person previously appointed by the Council

·         the complainee

·         any witnesses the complainee may wish to call

·         the complainants

·         the former Chairman of Northill Parish Council

·         the current Chairman of Northill Parish Council

·         the Central Bedfordshire Council ward Member.