Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Penny Baker, Colin Ross and Karen Southwood (Parish Town Council Co-optee).

2.1

There were no items identified where resolutions may be moved to exclude the press and public.

3.1

There were no declarations of interest from Members of the Committee.

4.1

Resolved: On the Motion of Councillor Ben Curran, seconded by Councillor Vickie Priestley, that Councillor Alan Law is appointed Deputy Chair of the Standards Committee for the Municipal Year 2015/16.

5.1

The minutes of the meetings of the Committee held on 22 January 2015 and 20 May 2015 were approved as correct records.

6.1

The Director of Legal and Governance reported on the creation of a Member Development Programme. An indicative draft programme was circulated to Members of the Committee at the meeting.

6.2

Members provided comments, as follows:

·         Relevant training and guidance should be provided to Members concerning the use of electronic  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

7.1

The Director of Legal and Governance submitted the Standards Committee Annual Report 2014/15, for consideration by the Committee prior to the submission of the report to Council in September 2015. The Annual Report highlighted the activities of the Committee and summarised the outcome of complaints received between January 2014  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

8.1

The Director of Legal and Governance submitted a report providing information on complaints relating to potential breaches of the Members’ Code of Conduct, which were considered under the Procedure for Dealing with Standards Complaints in 2014/15. 14 complaints were considered under the Procedure in 2014/15.

8.2

A new Procedure  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

9.1

The Director of Legal and Governance submitted a report which sought approval to the establishment of Consideration and Hearing Sub-Committees, following the adoption by Full Council of the revised Procedure for Dealing with Complaints Regarding City, Parish and Town Councillors and Co-opted Members.

9.2

Resolved: That this Committee (  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

10.1

The Director of Legal and Governance submitted a report concerning the Hansard Society Audit of Political Engagement Report 2015, which was the twelfth such audit and which gauged public opinion about politics and the political system and provided a ‘health check’ on democracy in Britain.

10.2

The Audit recorded  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

11.1

The Director of Legal and Governance submitted a report which gave details of the proposed work programme for the Standards Committee. Members were requested to consider the programme and to identify any additional items for inclusion.

11.2

Gillian Duckworth, the Director of Legal and Governance, informed Members that, at  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.

12.1

It was noted that meetings of the Committee would be held on 17 September and 10 December 2015 and 17 March and 16 June 2016.