Agenda and minutes

Members are requested at the start of the meeting to declare any known interests in any matter to be considered, and are reminded that any such interest should also be declared at the start of an item or during any discussion of the matter concerned.

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 19^th January 2009.

            Resolved - That the minutes of the meeting held on 19^th January 2009, be confirmed and signed as a correct record, subject to the inclusion of the Leader of the Council as in attendance.

(See explanatory note below.  Please phone the Committee Clerk whose name and number appears at the top of this agenda if you need further guidance.)

            No public questions were received during the meeting.

Certain items are expected to include the consideration of exempt information and the Standards 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, and the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information".

            Resolved - That, in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded during the discussion of the matters referred in Agenda Item 8 on the grounds that it would involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 1 and 2 of the schedule 12A to the Act, and the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information concerned (Minute 29 refers).

            The Committee considered the report from the Director of Law and Democratic Services (Monitoring Officer) on the following Ethical Framework matters -

            a) Standards Committee (Future Provisions) Regulations 2009  - The Committee noted the key provisions of the Regulations and that the Monitoring Officer would report back on any changes to the Council's Constitution and Codes and Protocols which were required when the Regulations were received.

            b) Local Code of Corporate Governance - The Committee reviewed and agreed amendments to the Local Code of Governance (as set down on the Appendix to the report), as part of its review following the first year of operation.

            c) Connecting People, Connecting Places - The Monitoring Officer advised on the governance arrangements for Connecting People, Connecting Places, the new way that the Council would be engaging with local communities.  It was agreed that a copy of the Cabinet report be sent to the members of the Committee, who are not Councillors.

            d) LGC Awards for Standards and Ethics - The Committee reviewed the winning submission from the Rossendale Borough Council to the award and those of the five other short listed authorities, and considered which areas of good practice should be explored by this authority. The Committee in particular highlighted the following areas:

?         The use the strapline 'Serious about Standards' to promote standards in Rossendale Borough Council.

?         The use of a case study of a standards issue on each Standards Committee agenda, to keep the Committee updated of case law and issues to consider when making local filtering decisions.

?         An understanding of how many hours-per-councillor Member Training has been taken during the year.

?         Highlighting of standards of conduct to prospective Councillors prior to elections.

?         Use of a partnership register and clear guidance within partnerships on conduct and declarations of interest.

It was agreed that the Monitoring Officer should explore how these areas could be developed further and report back or include in the proposed work programme for the Committee at the next meeting.

            e) Desktop Ethical Audit - The Committee reviewed an updated Desktop Ethical Audit and agreed that the Audit be approved as revised, subject to the inclusion of any of the areas identified above as areas for further development, subject to any report back by the Monitoring Officer on action to be taken.

            f) Local Filtering - Annual Submission to the Standards Board - The Committee reviewed the detailed annual return to the Standards Board on the work of the Committee in the last year and in relation to the Code of Conduct Complaints received.

            g) Annual Assembly of Standards Committees - The Members of Committee noted that the Annual Assembly would be held on 12-13th October 2009 in Birmingham and agreed to advise the Monitoring Officer if they wished to attend.

            h) Standards Board Publications - The Committee noted the contents of the Standards Bulletins Issues 42 and 43, The Town and Parish Council Standards for February 2009 and the Standards Update for February 2009.

            i)  Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Wiltshire  ...  view the full minutes text for item 27.

            The Committee received a report of the Director of Law and Democratic Services updating the Committee on the outcomes of the Standards in Partnerships Masterclass.  It was noted that the masterclass had been very well received, and that eight completed questionnaires had been submitted following the event relating to four of the Council partnerships.  The Committee confirmed that the Monitoring Officer should continue to invite partners who had not yet responded to provide information via the questionnaire in order that the Committee can ensure that each of its partnerships were assessed.  The Parish Councillor representatives asked that the report and questionnaire be discussed at the next Parish Forum in order that the Parish Charter arrangements can be reviewed.

            Resolved - 1) That the holding of the Standards in Partnership Masterclass be welcomed and the participants be thanked.

            2) That the Monitoring Officer, in conjunction with the Director of Partnership, Policy and Performance, draw up an action plan arising from the feedback received in relation to the Masterclass and report back to a future meeting of the Committee.

            3) That the report and questionnaire be discussed at the next Parish Council forum to review the Parish Charter arrangements.

            The Committee considered a report of the Director of Law and Democratic Services regarding the outcome of various ethical framework compliance matters, including the progress of current whistleblowing complaints and a breach of member /officer protocol.  It was noted that two complaints had been received under the Members Code of Conduct since the last meeting of the Committee.  One had resulted in 'no further action' and the second was the subject of an investigation which would report back the Standards Committee or Hearings Panel in due course.

            Resolved - 1) That the report on the outcome of various ethical framework complaints matters be noted.

            2) That the Hearings Panel of the Standards Committee for this and future investigations comprise five members of the Committee, excluding the three members who had sat on Assessment Sub-Committee and referred the complaint for investigation.