Agenda and minutes

At this point, members are asked to declare any personal or prejudicial interests they may have in the business on this agenda.

Members were invited to declare any personal or prejudicial interests they had in the business on the agenda.  No interests were declared.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting of the Standards Committee held on 8 June 2007.

RESOLVED:                That the minutes of the meeting of 8 June 2007 be approved and signed 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 5pm on Thursday 9 August 2007.

It was reported that there had been no registrations to speak under the Council’s public participation scheme.

A presentation to the Committee on the City of York Council’s committee management system.

Board members received a presentation which covered the City of York Council’s committee management system, Modern.gov.

Members were informed that Modern.gov was introduced:

• to comply with the new e-Government target:

R5 Public access to reports, minutes and agendas from past council meetings including future meetings, diary updated daily.

• to speed the circulation of agenda and reports
• to simplify and integrated many of the functions of Democracy and Members Support Group.

Modern.gov is an Internet accessible computer system which integrates:

• Calendar of meetings
• Forward Plan
• Agendas, minutes and reports
• Register of members’ interests
• Members’ attendances
• Parish Councils information
• Outside Bodies information
• …and more

Members suggested establishing a user group involving co-opted Members and appropriate external representatives to inform the Council about user ability of the system

Members suggested that contact information and appointment details in relation to the independent standards chair should be available on system.

Members commented that some service description for areas which Executive Members and other Committee’s were responsible would be helpful when trying to locate their particular issues.

RESOLVED: To note and thank officers for the presentation.

REASON:      To inform Members of the system used by the public, officers and all Councillors.

To review the workplan for the Standards Committee for the 2007/2008 municipal year.

Members considered a workplan for 2007/2008. The amended workplan is attached to these minutes.

Members expressed a wish to be kept informed on a regular basis on recently lodged case’s referred to the Standards Board for England.

To note the up to date position on the review of the complaints procedure.

Members received a verbal update on the review of the complaints procedure.

Members were informed that the Head of Civic, Democratic & Legal Services would be leaving early September and Colin Langley, former Head of Legal and Deputy Chief Executive at City of Sunderland Council would be the interim, working 4 days a week, on a 4-6 month contract.

Members were informed that the Assistant Director of Public Services would be leading on drafting a complaints procedure and suitable guidance for staff on dealing with persistent complainants.  As part of a consultation exercise on this he would be reporting to social inclusion working groups as well as the Standards Committee.

RESOLVED:  That the up to date position on the review of the complaints procedure be noted.

REASON: To keep Members informed on developments of the complaints procedure.

This report sets out details of applications for dispensations received by Councillors Bruce, Jamison, Dale, Livesley, Dunn, Mellors, Green, Thornton, Harrison and Watkins of Bishopthorpe Parish Council in respect of their participation in the St Andrew’s Reading Room charity.

Members consider a report that set out details of applications for dispensations received by Councillors Bruce, Jamison, Dale, Livesley, Dunn, Mellors, Green, Thornton, Harrison and Watkins of Bishopthorpe Parish Council in respect of their participation in the St Andres Reading Room Charity.

Members wished to advise Parish Councillors that in principle they had no objection to the independent running of the village.

Members agreed to defer this item providing that the Parish Council and Trustees provided information in relation to the following prior to the next meeting:

• Quorate requirements for both the Parish Council and the Charity
• Minimum number of Trustees required by the Charity
• Trust documents
• Non-parish Councillors be nominated as Trustees for the Charity
• Prejudicial interests

RESOLVED:             That this item be deferred, and be considered at the next meeting of this committee on 28 September 2007.

REASON:                  To ensure Members questions are answered before a decision can be made.