Agenda item

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

(a)   Communities in control: real people, real power: Codes of conduct for local authority members and employees – The Committee reviewed the consultation document and authorised the Monitoring Officer, in consultation with the Chair and the Director of Human Resources and Change, to submit a response to the Department of Communities and Local Government in line with the discussion.

(b)   Desktop Ethical Audit – The Committee noted the update on the Desktop Ethical Audit and asked that the Chief Executive and the Leader of the Council be invited to the next Standards Committee meeting to ascertain their key priorities and key areas for action and review and that the Monitoring Officer report back to a future meeting on the Ethical Desktop Audit.

(c)   National Fraud Initiative – The Committee noted the Council’s involvement in this initiative.

(d)   Swindon Standards Conference – The Monitoring Officer confirmed that a date had not yet been set for this conference.

(e)   Parish Councils – Mike Compton reported that he would be making his last Parish Council visit on 20^th November, when attending Castle Eaton Parish Council, and that following this visit he would report back to the Committee.  Three Parish Councils (Liddington, Highworth and Covingham) had identified the need for further training.

(f)     Standards Board Publications – The Committee noted the Standards Board Bulletin for August 2008.  It was noted that the number of Code of Conduct complaints had reduced nationally, but there had been an increase in the number of referrals for investigation.

(g)   Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Wiltshire Independent Standards Committee Members’ Forum – The Committee considered the minutes of the forum meeting held on 26^th September and noted that the main issues were around remuneration for Independent Members of Standards Committees and indemnities for Councillors and Members of Committees.

(h)   Seventh Annual Assembly of Standards Committees – Trevor Davies agreed to write up a report on this and bring it to the next meeting.

Resolved – (1) That the Ethical Framework update be noted.

(2) That any further comments on the Department of Communities and Local Government Consultation Paper be forwarded to the Monitoring Officer, and the Monitoring Officer be authorised, in consultation with the Chair and the Director of Human Resources and Change, to submit a response to the Department of Communities and Local Government in line with the Committee’s discussion.

(3) That the Chief Executive and Leader of the Council be invited to the next meeting to discuss the Desktop Ethical Audit.