Agenda and minutes

Members were invited to declare at this point in the meeting any personal or prejudicial interests they might have in the business on the agenda.  None were declared.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting of the Standards Committee held on 16 March 2012.

RESOLVED:       That the minutes of the Standards Committee meeting held on 16 March 2012 be approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

At this point in the meeting, members of the public who have registered their wish to speak, regarding an item on the agenda or an issue within the remit of the Standards Committee, may do so.  The deadline for registering is 5:00 pm on Wednesday 16 May 2012.

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

This report updates Members on progress with putting in place new arrangements for dealing with standards issues affecting City of York Council and the local parish councils with effect from 1 July 2012.

Consideration was given to a report that provided an update on progress with putting in place new arrangements for dealing with standards issues affecting the City of York Council and the local parish councils with effect from 1 July 2012. 

(i)           Standards Committee

The City Council had accepted the Standards Committee’s recommendation to establish a non-statutory Standards Committee to replace the existing committee after 1 July 2012.

The Local Association had balloted its members regarding the parish representation and three nominations had been received.  These were due to be considered by Council at the annual meeting.

It was suggested that the parish representatives be invited to attend the next meeting of the Standards Committee.

(ii)          Independent Persons

The City Council had also accepted the Committee’s recommendation that two independent persons should be appointed.  Confirmation was still awaited as to the transitional arrangements that could be put in place.  Consideration was given to a draft description for an independent person (Annex A to the report).

(iii)        Code of Conduct

The City Council had agreed to adopt an interim position whereby the existing Code would continue with a view to a new Code being adopted at the Council’s meeting scheduled for 19 July 2012. 

During April the LGA model had been published.  The Department for Communities and Local Government had also issued their own Code.  Consideration was given to the comparison of the two Codes (Annex B to the report).  Members also noted the model Code that had been presented to North Yorkshire County Council’s Standards Committee (Annex C to the report).

Members stated that the existing Code had been effective and they suggested that consideration be given to modifying the Code to ensure that it met the new requirements.

(iv)        Arrangements for handling complaints

An update was given on the options available in respect of an appeal mechanism for a Member who had been found to have breached the Code.  It was noted that the recommended option was for appeals to be heard by a differently constituted Sub-Committee of the Standards Committee.

(v)         Monitoring Document

Members considered the updated version of the monitoring document that had been considered at the previous meeting and noted the progress that had been made.

RESOLVED:       (i)      That the role description for an

                                      Independent Person be approved.

                             (ii)      That the Monitoring Officer be

requested to adapt the existing Code to ensure that it met the new requirements and that this be presented to the Committee for their consideration at the next meeting.

(iii)     That the Committee recommended that appeals against findings that a Member had breached the Code should be referred to a differently constituted Sub-Committee of the Standards Committee.

(iv)    That the progress on the various tasks to establish the new arrangements be noted.

REASON:  To ensure arrangements are in place for dealing with standards issues affecting the City of York Council and the local parish councils with effect from 1 July 2012.