Agenda and minutes

At this point in the meeting, 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.

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. 

Cllr Fisher declared an interest in Agenda Item 4 (Minutes of Sub-Committees).  He left the room during consideration of that item and took no part in the decision thereon.

Cllr Pavlovic also declared an interest in Item 4.

To consider the exclusion of the public and press from the meeting during consideration of exempt Annexes A and B to Agenda Item 11 (Monitoring Report in Respect of Complaints Received), on the grounds that they contain 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 amended 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 and B to Agenda Item 9 (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 19 January 2023.

Resolved:  That the minutes of the meeting of the Joint Standards Committee held on 19 January 2023 be approved and signed as a correct record.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting of the Joint Standards Assessments Sub-Committee held on 21 February 2023.

Resolved:  That the minutes of the meeting of the Joint Standards Assessments Sub-Committee held on 21 February 2023 be approved and signed as a correct record.

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 5:00pm on Tuesday, 18 April 2023.

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.

This report provides the committee with a finalised draft Annual Report for 2022-2023.

Members received a report which asked them to consider the committee’s draft Annual Report for the 2022-23 Municipal Year.

Following debate, it was

Resolved:  (i)      That the following amendments be made to the draft Annual Report, the exact wording to be determined by the Deputy Monitoring Officer in consultation with the Chair and Vice-Chair:

a)   In the Foreword, mention Cllr Kilbane in the section on membership changes.

b)   In the section on Civility in Public Life:

·      include a reference to the murder of Sir David Ames;

·      include a reference to the rules of conduct on social media.

c)    Add information on the LGA review.

d)   Add information on the general trend of complaint numbers, based on comparisons with previous years.

(ii)     That the amended Report be presented to the next Ordinary meeting of Council.

Reason:     In order to provide a report to Council of the committee’s work over the past Municipal Year.

To consider the Committee’s work plan for the 2023-24 Municipal Year.

Members considered the committee’s work plan for the 2023-24 Municipal Year.

Following discussion, it was

Resolved:  That the work plan be approved, subject to the addition of the following items to the next two meetings:

                  Meeting on 7 June 2023

·      Review of Standards Policies and Procedures

·      Update on the Member Training Programme

                  Meeting on 21 September 2023

·      Update on the Member Training Programme

Reason:     To ensure that there is a planned programme of work in place, and to enable these issues to be addressed by the newly reconstituted committee in the next municipal year.

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.

At the end of the meeting, the Chair placed on record his thanks to committee members and officers for their help and support during his tenure and registered his appreciation of Cllr Galvin, who would be standing down at the Election, for his service to the committee and the Council.