BABERGH DISTRICT COUNCIL
STANDARDS COMMITTEE
MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE STANDARDS COMMITTEE HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER, COUNCIL OFFICES, CORKS LANE, HADLEIGH ON FRIDAY, 9 NOVEMBER 2007
PRESENT: |
Members
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Co-opted Members
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Mrs S P Clarke (Chairman)
Mr P Jones
Mr R E Kemp |
Miss P F Cook
Mr J B Newton
Mr J G Watson |
Mrs J M Cole and Mr B Riley were unable to be present.
Mr J G Watson had recently been appointed as an Independent Co-opted Member, and was welcomed to his first meeting of the Committee.
Miss P F Cook, Mr J B Newton and Mr J G Watson declared a personal and prejudicial interest in respect of the item referred to in Minute No. 20 below, by virtue of the fact that this was a matter affecting their financial position, and were not present during the consideration of that item.
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RESOLVED
That the Minutes of the meeting held on 27 July 2007 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.
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None received.
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None received.
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Miss Cook, Mr Newton and Mr Watson left the meeting.
The Monitoring Officer presented a report (Paper G127) concerning the possible extension of the term of appointment of Co-opted Members of the Standards Committee from two years to four years.
Members were aware that experience had shown that it was difficult to attract suitable candidates to fill the Independent Member vacancies who fulfilled the qualifying criteria and had sufficient degree of independence from the Council. They noted that the Standards Board had confirmed that it had no objection to the proposed extension to the term of office.
RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL
(1) That the term of office for the four existing co-opted Members of Standards Committee be extended from two years to four years.
(2) That subject to the needs or requirements of any joint Standards Committee established with other authorities, future vacancies for co-opted Members of the Committee be advertised for a term of four years.
Miss Cook, Mr Newton and Mr Watson re-joined the meeting.
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The Monitoring Officer presented a report (Paper G128) which updated Members on recent national case reports arising from investigations of alleged breaches of the Members Code of Conduct. An electronic copy of this report had been sent to each Member of the Council.
It was noted that the second sentence of paragraph 4.6.16 should read “Had there been a fresh allegation based on his failure to register his role as branch co-ordinator of the CEP then again a hearing on this issue would have followed”.
RESOLVED
That the information contained in Paper G128 be noted.
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The Monitoring Officer presented a report (Paper G129) outlining matters discussed at the consultation event organised by the Standards Board on 13 September 2007, and giving further consideration to possible joint committee arrangements.
In the ensuing discussion the following were among the points noted:-
- Further consultations had taken place at the Annual Assembly of the Standards Board on 15 and 16 October 2007.
- Further discussions would be held at the annual meeting of the Suffolk Standards Committees and Monitoring Officers on 12 November 2007. The Chief Executive of the Standards Board would be present at the meeting. The following model structures would be considered:-
Option 1: Informal joint working
Option 2: Joint Committee – local filter only
Option 3: Joint Committee – local filter and hearings
Option 4: Joint Committee – full powers
- Option 1 was already in operation and Members considered Option 4 to be unrealistic. It was hoped that the advantages and disadvantages of Options 2 and 3 would become clearer after the meeting on 12 November.
- Members wished to see new arrangements which were fair, simple and flexible enough to meet local circumstances.
- Mediation would be a significant aspect of the new arrangements, and the Monitoring Officer had arranged to receive training on this.
RESOLVED
That the information contained in Paper G129 be noted.
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Mr Jones reported on the Sixth Annual Assembly of the Standards Board which he and Mrs Cole had attended. A copy of the Standards Board newsletter (Paper G131) had been circulated to Members. Most of the discussions at the conference had centred around the new arrangements. Overall, attendance at the conference was seen as useful.
RESOLVED
(1) That the Standards Board newsletter set out in Paper G131 be noted.
(2) That two provisional reservations be made for the 2008 Annual Assembly of the Standards Board.
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The Monitoring Officer reported that notification had been received from all except two parish councils within the District that they had adopted the revised Code of Conduct for Members by the required date of 1 October 2007. Pursuant to Section 51(5) of the Local Government Act 2000, the mandatory provisions of the revised Code would now automatically apply to members of any parish council that had not formally adopted the Code although there remained a duty to do so as soon as reasonably practicable.
The Monitoring Officer had despatched reminders to those parish councils from whom notice of adoption had not been received. The Monitoring Officer would continue to try to contact the two parishes to ascertain the current situation.
RESOLVED
That the position as set out above be noted.
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The Monitoring Officer submitted a Report (Paper G130) containing details of interests and gifts/hospitality declared by Councillors during the period from 1 July to 30 September 2007.
It was noted that a new form was being used for the declaration of gifts and hospitality received by Members, which is placed on the Register of Interests. The form reminds Members of the need to declare a personal interest in any business relating to the person from whom the gift or hospitality was received during the following three years.
RESOLVED
That the report as set out in Paper G130 be noted.
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The Monitoring Officer provided a verbal update.
It was noted that the Suffolk Association of Local Councils (SALC) had not yet produced the “Standards Made Simple” leaflet intended for use by Parish Clerks. The Monitoring Officer was asked to follow this is up with SALC.
RESOLVED
That the position be noted.
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The business of the meeting was concluded at 11.10 a.m.
Chairman
Notes:
(1) The meeting was adjourned for refreshments between 10.40 and 10.50 a.m.
(2) After the meeting had closed, a Standards Board DVD entitled “The Code Uncovered” was shown.
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