Agenda and minutes

The Chair reminded Members of the need to declare any known interests in any matters to be considered at the meeting.  No declarations were made.

To receive the minutes of the meeting held on 26^th March 2012.

Resolved – That the minutes of the meeting held on 26^th March 2012, be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

No public questions were received during the meeting.

Certain items are expected to include the consideration of exempt information and the Committee is, therefore, recommended to resolve "That, in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded during the discussion of the matters referred to in the items listed below, on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information, as defined in the respective paragraph of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act".

            That, in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded during the discussion of the matters referred to in the items listed below on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the respective paragraphs of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

Item No.             Paragraph No.               Minute No.

8                      1, 2        7

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Law and Democratic Services (Monitoring Officer) asking the Committee to its Work Programme for 2012/2013. 

Resolved –That the Committee’s Work Programme for 2012/2013 be approved.

The Committee considered a report from the Director of Law and Democratic Services (Monitoring Officer) recommending  the adoption of a new Members Code of Conduct and procedure for investigating and hearing complaints to come into operation when the statutory Standards Framework ceases to have effect under the Regulations to the Localism Act.

The Director of Law and Democratic Services advised on the Pecuniary Interest Regulations and the Local Act 2011 (Commencement No. 6 and Transitional, Savings and Transitory Provisions) Order 2012 which had been issued by the Government on 8^th June 2012.

The Committee noted the options before the Council in relation to the Code of Conduct and Standards Framework.  It was agreed that the Code as appended to the report was in line with discussions with the Standards Committee, Parish Councils and the Corporate Government Working Party to keep the Code as close to the current one as possible.  The Committee recommended one change, which was to the increase in the value of gifts or hospitality to be declared by Members from £25 to £50.  The Director of Law and Democratic Services advised that he would provide additional information in the report to Council as to the nature of declarable pecuniary interests under the Regulations, and for which failure to declare made Members liable to prosecution, and the nature of the sanctions available to the courts.  The Director of Law and Democratic Services would be offering training to Councillors. 

It was noted that Town and Parish Councils were also required to adopt a Code of Conduct by 1 July 2012, and it was not yet known whether those in Swindon would adopt the same Code as the Council or adopt that recommended by the National Association of Local Councils.   It was agreed that the Director of Law and Democratic Services would also offer training to Town and Parish Councils on the Code and new framework.

The Committee approved the governance arrangements suggested as to the consideration of complaints under the Code of Conduct, for the appointment of two independent persons, and for the composition and work of the Standards Committee.

Resolved that –

It be recommended to Council that - 

1)    The revised Members Code of Conduct set out at Appendix ‘4’ to the report be adopted to come into operation on 1^st July 2012, subject to the amendment of 8(1) (viii) to set the value of gift or hospitality to be declared as £50.

2)    The Director of Law and Democratic Services be authorised to make any further technical amendments to the Code which may be necessary as a result of any statutory requirements introduced following the adoption of the revised Code.

3)    The arrangements for consideration, investigation and hearing of complaints under the revised Members Code of Conduct be adopted as set out below:

·         The Code of Conduct Complaint Form  (Appendix ‘5’ to the Report)

·         Procedure for dealing with Complaints (Appendix ‘6’ to the Report)

4)    The current statutory Standards Committee be dissolved on 30  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

The Committee considered an exempt report from the Director of Law and Democratic Services (Monitoring Officer) regarding the outcome of various ethical framework compliance matters, including the receipt and progress of Whistleblowing Complaints since the last meeting and an update on the progress of complaints relating to breaches of the Protocol of Member/ Officer Relations and the Members Code of Conduct.

Resolved – 1) That the report be noted.

As this was the last meeting of the statutory Standards Committee, Councillor David Wood proposed a vote of thanks to the Independent Members and Town Parish Council representatives for their work on the Committee over many years.  In particular he thanked Keith Carby who had been the Chair of the Standards Committee continuously since its inaugural meeting in 2000, and Trevor Davies who had been the Vice-Chair for most of that period, for their length of public service.

The Chair, Mr Keith Carby, advised that this was his last meeting as he was not seeking to continue as a non-voting co-opted member of the Committee, and thanked all his fellow Independent Members, in particular Mr Trevor Davies who had served with him as Vice-Chair for many years, and the Parish Representatives, Councillors and Officers for their work and support on the Committee.

Resolved – That the Independent Members and Parish Council representatives be thanked for their work on the statutory Standards Committee.