Agenda and minutes

To receive and note apologies for absence.

Due to the absence of the Chair and Vice-Chair, Members voted for Cllr Runciman to Chair the meeting, with Parish Cllr Geoghegan-Breen to act as Vice-Chair.

Apologies were received and noted from Cllr Rowley BEM, Parish Cllrs Waudby and Chambers, Mr J Leigh and Ms R Mazza (Independent Persons).

At this point in the meeting, Members and co-opted members are asked to declare any disclosable pecuniary interest, or other registerable interest, they might have in respect of business on this agenda, if they have not already done so in advance on the Register of Interests. The disclosure must include the nature of the interest.

An interest must also be disclosed in the meeting when it becomes apparent to the member during the meeting.

[Please see the attached sheet for further guidance for Members.]

Members were asked to declare any personal interests not included on the Register of Interests, or any prejudicial interests or disclosable pecuniary interests which they might have in respect of business on the agenda.  None were declared.

To consider the exclusion of the press and public from the meeting during consideration of exempt Annexes A(ii) and B (ii) to Agenda Item 10 (Monitoring report in Respect of Complaints Received) on the grounds that it contains information which is likely to reveal the identity of individuals. 

This information is classed as exempt under paragraph 2 of Part 1  of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as revised by The Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006.

Resolved: That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the exempt versions of Annexes A (ii) and B (ii) to Agenda Item 10 (Monitoring Report in Respect of Complaints Received), on the grounds that they contain information likely to reveal the identity of individuals, which is classed as exempt under Paragraph 2 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting of the Joint Standards Committee held on 18 March 2025.

Resolved:  That the minutes of the meeting of the Joint Standards Committee held on 18 March 2025 be approved as a correct record.

To approve and sign the minutes of the following meetings of the Joint Standards Sub-Committees:

·       Joint Standards Assessment Sub-Committee, 11 April 2025

Resolved:  That the minutes of the following sub-committee meetings be approved as a correct record:

·        Joint Standards Assessment Sub-Committee, 11 April 2025

At this point in the meeting members of the public who have registered to speak can do so. Members of the public may speak on agenda items or on matters within the remit of the committee.

Please note that our registration deadlines are set as 2 working days before the meeting, in order to facilitate the management of public participation at our meetings.  The deadline for registering at this meeting is 5:00 pm on Friday, 9 May 2025.    

To register to speak please visit www.york.gov.uk/AttendCouncilMeetings to fill in an online registration form.  If you have any questions about the registration form or the meeting, please contact Democratic Services.  Contact details can be found at the foot of this agenda.

Webcasting of Public Meetings

Please note that, subject to available resources, this meeting will be webcast including any registered public speakers who have given their permission. The meeting can be viewed live and on demand at www.york.gov.uk/webcasts.

It was reported that there had been no registrations to speak at the meeting under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme.

Members will receive a report on member training and are asked to consider the formation of a cross-party member working group.

Members considered the proposal to establish a working group to develop and implement the member induction and training programme, regularly reviewing as appropriate.

All Members were supportive of the proposal and agreed the terms of reference at Annex A to the report.  They also agreed that the working group should comprise of seven members, two Labour, two Liberal Democrats, one Conservative/Independent and two Parish Councillors.

Resolved:           

a)   That the establishment of a cross-party working group, comprising of seven members, as set out above with a remit to

                                                             i.        develop, implement and review member induction and training.

                                                            ii.        Act as the liaison group for Operation Ford, undertaking joint working with North Yorkshire Police and North Yorkshire Council Members.

b)   That the terms of reference set out in Annex A to the report be approved.

Reason:     To ensure that members have access to appropriate training and that member safety and security is addressed with relevant partners.

To consider the Committee’s work plan and decide whether any amendments or additions are required.

Members considered the committee’s work plan for the current municipal year.

Resolved:  That the work plan be approved.

Reason:     To ensure that the committee has a planned programme of work in place.

To receive a routine update report on recent standards complaints.

Members considered a report which provided an update on current business as regards complaints.

Resolved:  That the report be noted.

Reason:     To ensure that the committee is aware of current levels of activity.