Agenda and minutes

To appoint a Chair of the Joint Standards Committee for the municipal year.

RESOLVED:       That Councillor Runciman be appointed Chair of the Joint Standards Committee.

To appoint a Vice-Chair of the Joint Standards Committee for the municipal year.

RESOLVED:       That Councillor Martin be appointed as Vice-Chair of the Joint Standards Committee.

At this point, Members are asked to declare:

·         Any personal interests not included on the Register of Interests

·         Any prejudicial interests or

·        Any disclosable pecuniary interests

which they may have in respect of business on this agenda.

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

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting of the Joint Standards Committee held on 17 April 2013.

RESOLVED:       That the minutes of the Joint Standards Committee meeting held on 17 April 2013 be confirmed and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

Referring to the issue raised under Public Participation (minute 33), clarification was sought as to whether further consideration had been given to the suggestion that the complaints procedure should include provision for a complainant to appeal against a decision of the Monitoring Officer and Independent Persons.  It was noted that this issue had been considered by the Committee at their meeting of 20 February 2013 (minute 26 refers).  A report would be presented at the next meeting to clarify the situation.¹

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 Joint Standards Committee, may do so.  The deadline for registering is 5:00 pm on Tuesday 25 June 2013.

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

A verbal update will be given on the appointment of an independent person.

[see also Part B minute]

The Monitoring Officer gave a verbal update on the appointment of an Independent Person.  There had been four applicants for the position and three of the candidates had been interviewed the previous day.  It was the Selection Panel’s recommendation that Mr Nicholas Hall be appointed.

It was noted that the Interim Independent Persons would complete their term of office on 30 June 2013.  Tribute was paid to work that Mrs Bainton, Mr Dixon and Mr Hall had carried out and the contribution that they had made.   

RESOLVED:       (i)      That it be recommended to Council that

Mr Nicholas Hall be appointed as an Independent Person.

(ii)      That thanks be recorded to Mrs Bainton,

Mr Dixon and Mr Hall for the outstanding service they had given as Independent Persons¹.

REASON:           To ensure that the Council has appropriate arrangements in place for handling complaints about  Members.

The Monitoring Officer will give a verbal update on the Planning Code of Conduct.

The Monitoring Officer gave a verbal update on the Planning Code of Conduct.

As agreed at the Joint Standards Committee meeting on 20 February 2013, consultation on the Planning Code of Conduct had taken place with planning officers and with the Chair of the Planning Committee.   The intention had been that the code would then be considered by the Planning Committee.  However, the Local Government Association had recently issued a publication “Probity in Planning for Councillors and Officers” and the Monitoring Officer stated that he would consider whether any amendments were required to the Code in the light of the recent guidance and report back to the Joint Standards Committee accordingly.

It was suggested that consideration should be given to ensuring that a similar code was also available to parish councils particularly in view of the increasing responsibility they may take in respect of neighbourhood plans. 

RESOLVED:       (i)      That the update on the situation in respect

                                       of the Planning Code of Conduct be noted.

                             (ii)      That, at the next meeting, the Monitoring

Officer report on any changes necessary to the Code in the light of the LGA guidance¹.

REASON:           To support high standards of probity in decision-

                             making in respect of planning issues.

This report advises the Committee on the outcome of a recent review of the Committee on Standards in Public Life (CSPL).

Members considered a report that advised them of the outcome of a recent review of the Committee on Standards in Public Life (CSPL).

Members were asked to consider any implications for the future work plan of the Joint Standards Committee.

It was noted that, as the Nolan Committee, the CSPL had established the Principles of Standards in Public Life which underpinned the previous statutory Code of Conduct for Members and which still underpinned the present Code.  Members noted that the principles had been updated slightly and requested that copies of the revised principles be circulated to them¹. 

RESOLVED:       That the report be noted.

REASON:           To ensure that the Committee continues to make an effective contribution to ethical standards within the City Council.

The Monitoring Officer will give a verbal report in respect of complaints received.

The Monitoring Officer gave a verbal report in respect of complaints received.

One new complaint had been received.  This related to a parish council issue and was to be investigated by the Monitoring Officer.

It was agreed that, at the next meeting, a report on complaints received during the previous municipal year would be presented¹.

RESOLVED:       That the update on complaints received be noted.

REASON:           To ensure that the Committee is kept updated on complaints received.

Members are asked to review the Committee’s work plan.

Consideration was given to the Committee’s work plan.

RESOLVED:       That the Committee’s work plan be approved subject to the following additions:

·        Report on the initial handling of complaints by the Monitoring Officer and Independent Persons – meeting of 11 September 2013

·        Update on Planning Code of Conduct (in respect of City and Parish Councils) – meeting of 11 September 2013

·        Report on complaints received during previous municipal year – meeting of 11 September 2013

REASON:           To ensure that the Committee has a planned programme of work in place.

Referring to the agenda item on Review of Parish Council Protocol on Parish Councillors/Employee relations that was scheduled for the meeting on 11 September 2013, Councillor Simpson reported that he had not been contacted by the Parish Councils Liaison Board regarding his attendance at the meeting at which this was to be considered.

[see also Part A minute]

The Monitoring Officer gave a verbal update on the appointment of an Independent Person.  There had been four applicants for the position and three of the candidates had been interviewed the previous day.  It was the Selection Panel’s recommendation that Mr Nicholas Hall be appointed.

RECOMMENDED:      That Mr Nicholas Hall be appointed as an Independent Person.

REASON:                     To ensure that the Council has appropriate arrangements in place for handling complaints about Members.