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 may have in respect of business on this agenda.

Members were invited to declare at this point in the meeting any personal interests not included on the Register of Interests, any prejudicial interests, or any disclosable pecuniary interests, that they might have in the business on the agenda.  No interests were declared.

To consider excluding the public and press from the meeting during consideration of agenda item 3 (Complaint against a Member of a Council covered by the Joint Standards Committee),  on the grounds that it contains information relating to an individual.  This information is classed as exempt under paragraph 1 of Schedule 12A to Section 100A 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 Agenda Item 3 (Complaint against a Member of a Council covered by the Joint Standards Committee), on the grounds that it contains information relating to an individual, which is classed as exempt under paragraph 1 of Schedule 12A to Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006.

In view of the short notice provided, the Chair queried whether the meeting had been properly convened.  The Monitoring Officer confirmed that it had, adding that the reason for the urgency was that the outcome of the complaint may have an impact on the decision to be taken at the Extraordinary Council meeting the same evening.

To consider a complaint made about a Member of a Council covered by the Joint Standards Committee and to take an initial decision as to whether, and how, the matter should be pursued.

Members considered a report on a complaint made against a Member of a Council covered by the Joint Standards Committee.

The complaint related to a potential breach of the Councillor Code of Conduct by the said Member in respect of declarations of interests.

Members considered the following options:

·        To decide that no further action be taken

·        To refer the matter to the Monitoring Officer for investigation,

·        To consider whether some other action may be appropriate.

Having considered the evidence before them, and taking into consideration the comments of the Independent Persons, Members

Resolved:  (i)      That no further action be taken.

Reason:     The Assessments Sub-Committee do not consider that the Code of Conduct has been breached in this case.

                   (ii)      That the member in question be provided with advice in respect of declaring interests, and be advised to consider their position regarding membership of the Gambling & Licensing Committee.

Reason:     To ensure that a similar situation does not arise in future.