Agenda and minutes

To appoint a member to chair the meeting.

Resolved:  That Cllr Kramm be appointed to act as Chair of the meeting.

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 which 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 4, on the grounds that it contains information relating to individuals.  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 4 (Complaint about a Member of a Council covered by the Joint Standards Committee), on the grounds that it includes 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.

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 subject Member in relation to the disclosure of confidential information. 

Members were informed that the complainant was currently seeking legal advice with regard to the draft report of the Investigating Officer attached at Annex 2.  After debating the matter, they

Resolved:  That the meeting be adjourned to Wednesday, 8 August 2018 at 5:00pm.

Reason:     To allow time for the legal advice sought by the complainant to be received, and to receive further information on the advice offered to the subject Member at the time of the alleged breach.

The meeting was re-convened on the 8 August as agreed and the additional information was circulated to Members, who then considered the following options:

·        To decide that no further action be taken

·        To ask for further investigation

·        To refer the matter for a hearing.

Having considered the evidence before them, and taking into account the comments of the Independent Person, Members

Resolved:  That the matter be referred for a hearing, the remit of which will be limited to the specific point of whether or not the disclosure of the confidential information was reasonable, in the public interest and made in good faith, and therefore falls within the exemption in paragraph 3(5) (d) of the Code of Conduct.

Reason:     The Sub-Committee is of the view that this is the only issue in dispute in this case and that a hearing is required to ensure that all relevant evidence can be properly considered before a decision is made.