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.

Resolved – That the minutes of the meeting held on  26^th September 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 8 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 21 refers.)

            The Committee considered a report of the Director of Law and Democratic Services dated 14^th November 2005, recommending the adoption of a new procedure for the local investigation of complaints to the Standards Board for England, as set out at Appendix ‘1’. 

            Resolved – That the Swindon Borough Council’s Procedure for Local Investigation of Referred Complaints be adopted as set down, subject to the inclusion of a paragraph advising that no Member of the Standards Committee should make comments on any complaint made to the Standards Board for England, which could prejudice their ability to participate in any local determination hearing.

            The Committee received an Ethical Update from the Director of Law and Democratic Services dated 14^th November 2005 including:

i)        The minutes of the Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Wiltshire Independent Members Forum of 21^st October 2005.

ii)      The Standards Board Bulletin for November 2005, including the report of a ruling by the Adjudication Panel for England clarifying the Code’s position against Members’ disclosure of confidential information;

iii)    The Standards Board ‘Standards Committee News’ for November 2005;

iv)    The Swindon Internal Audit Services, Fraud Bulletin, November 2005;

v)      An update on complaints to the Standards Board for England.

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

            2) That as part of a report by the Director of Law and Democratic Services regarding the advertisement of the independent member post to the next meeting, consideration be given as to whether the Membership of the Standards Committee should be increased to include a representative of the Swindon Independents and an additional independent member and / or parish representative. 

            The Committee considered a report of the Director of Law and Democratic Services dated 14^th November 2005 updating the Committee on  whistleblowing complaints, a breach of the Member / Officer Protocol and a complaint to the Standards Board for England.  

            Resolved – That the report be noted.