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 July 2005.

Resolved – That the minutes of the meeting held on 19^th July 2005, be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

(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 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".

            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 to in Item 9 of the Notice of the Meeting on the grounds that it would involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 1 and 15 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act. (Minute 14 refers.)

            The Committee considered as part of the Ethical Update report of the Director of Law and Corporate Governance dated 14^th September 2005:

i)        The minutes of the Independent Members Co-ordinators Forum on 20^th July 2005 and the notes and verbal update from the Vice-Chair;

ii)      The Standards Board Bulletin for July 2005;

iii)    An update on the progress of the Ethical Audit questionnaire; and

iv)    A summary from the Monitoring Officer of the Annual Standards Board Conference on 5^th and 6^th September and Standards Board’s response to the consultation on the review of the Code of Conduct.

            Resolved – 1) That the Ethical Framework report be noted; and

            2) That the Ethical Audit Working Group be re-constituted to include Mr Keith Carby, Mr Mike Compton and Councillor Mike Evemy to consider the results of the Ethical Audit Questionnaire in due course and report back to the Committee.

            The Committee considered a report of the Director of Finance advising that the Anti-Fraud and Corruption Strategy and Whistleblowing Policy would be reviewed before April 2006 by the Head of Internal Audit in conjunction with the Director of Law and Corporate Governance and the Director of Finance, and the Committee would be updated at the next meeting of progress made.

            Resolved – That the report be noted.

            The Committee received a report from the Directors of Finance and Law and Corporate Governance, dated 12^th September 2005 recommending the renewal of the Council’s subscription to the Public Concern at Work Helpline from January 2006 for a further three years.

            Resolved  - That the Council renews its subscription to the Public Concern at Work Helpline for a further three years from January 2006, to continue to provide a formal method of confidential reporting for staff who do not feel that they can raise issues directly with the Council.

            The Committee considered a report of the Director of Law and Corporate Governance dated 13^th September 2005 reporting on the outcome of an investigation of a whistle-blowing complaints, and complaints received in respect of a breach of the Member / Officer Protocol.  In addition, the Committee had referred to it comments alleged to have been made by Councillor Lister.

            Resolved – (1) That the report be noted; and

            (2) That, without having investigated the matter or come to any view on the merits of the complaint, the Committee agreed that the comments alleged to have been made by Councillor Lister be referred to the Standards Board for England so that the issue can be fully investigated, and that a public statement be issued to this effect.