Agenda and minutes

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 might 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 might have in respect of business on the agenda.  None were declared.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting of the Joint Standards Committee held on 29 November 2017.

Resolved:  That the minutes of the meeting of the Joint Standards Committee held on 29 November 2017 be confirmed, 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 Joint Standards Committee, may do so.  The deadline for registering is 5:00 pm on Tuesday, 30 January 2018.  To register to speak please contact the Democracy Officer for the meeting on the details at the foot of the agenda.

Filming or Recording Meetings

Residents are welcome to photograph, film or record Councillors and Officers at all meetings open to the press and public. This includes the use of social media reporting, i.e. tweeting.  Anyone wishing to film, record or take photos at any public meeting should contact the Democracy Officer (whose contact details are at the foot of this agenda) in advance of the meeting.

The Council’s protocol on Webcasting, Filming and Recording of Meetings ensures that these practices are carried out in a manner both respectful to the conduct of the meeting and all those present.  It can be viewed at http://www.york.gov.uk/download/downloads/id/11406/protocol_for_webcasting_filming_and_recording_of_council_meetings_20160809.pdf

It was reported that there had been one registration to speak at the meeting under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme.

Gwen Swinburn spoke on Agenda Item 5 (Review of the Code of Conduct), describing the review report as confusing and in need of further work and consultation.  She went on to make a series of points about the standards process in general, which she considered ‘chaotic’.

To receive a routine update report on recent standards complaints.

Members received a routine update report on recent standards complaints.

Since the last meeting, one new matter had been opened and would be referred to an assessments sub-committee.  Two older matters were still ongoing.  A number of further complaints had been received in the past week; these were being progressed.

Following discussion, and in response to questions from Members, the Monitoring Officer confirmed that:

·        There was no legal requirement to exclude members of the same political group as the subject of the complaint from the sub-committee dealing with that complaint, though this tended to be the practice;

·        Information on timescales for dealing with complaints was brought to the committee as part of the annual review.

Resolved:  That the report and additional information be noted.

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

This report informs Members of the work of the group set up by this committee to review the City of York Council’s code of conduct for councillors and asks them to endorse the proposed revisions to the code.

Members considered a report which outlined the work of the group established by the committee in August 2017 to review the City Council’s Code of Conduct for councillors (the Code).

The changes recommended by the working group were summarised in paragraph 4 of the report and detailed in the revised version of the Code attached as Annex 1.  The group had also recommended that the Code be accompanied by guidance, the proposed wording of which was set out in Annex 2.

Following a discussion on the content of the revised Code and taking into consideration matters raised under public participation, it was

Resolved:  That a further meeting of the working group be convened to consider the draft revised Code of Conduct and guidance again before bringing it back to the committee.

Reason:     To ensure that all matters have been properly considered before the committee recommends the revised Code to Council for adoption and endorses the accompanying guidance.

This report asks Members to approve the final version of a code of conduct for members of Ward Planning Panels, following consultation on the draft version considered in April 2017.

Members considered a report which sought approval for the final version of a code of conduct for members of Ward Planning Panels, following consultation on the draft amended version considered at the meeting on 5 July 2017.

The final version, incorporating changes suggested by the Planning Panels and fed back by the Communities & Equalities (C&E) team, was attached as Annex 1 to the report.  If approved, it would be sent to the C&E team for distribution to Panel members.

Resolved:  That, subject to the correction of some typographical errors in sections 1.2 and 3.1, the final draft code of conduct attached at Annex 1 be approved.

Reason:     To ensure that the Planning Panels can command public confidence.

To review the committee’s work plan for the remainder of the 2017/18 municipal year and consider whether any changes or additions are required.

Members considered the committee’s work plan and whether any further items should be included on the agendas for the final meeting of the 2017/18 municipal year.

Resolved:  That the following items be added to the work plan for consideration at the meeting on 18 April 2018:

·        Ethical Standards Review

·        Review of CYC Code of Conduct (following further consideration by the working group)

·        Review of CYC Protocol on Officer / Member relations (following initial consideration by the working group)

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