Agenda and minutes

To appoint a Member to chair the meeting.

Resolved:  That Councillor Taylor be appointed to Chair 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 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 the agenda.  None were declared.

To consider excluding the public and press from the meeting during consideration of agenda items 4 and 5 on the grounds that they contain 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 items 4 and 5 on the grounds that they contain 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.

To consider a complaint made against 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 complaint made against a Member of a Council covered by the Joint Standards Committee and were asked to decide whether, and how, the matters should be pursued.

The substance of the complaint related to public statements made by a Member in respect of another Member of the Council.

The report of the Monitoring Officer and the views of the Independent Persons were noted.

Having considered the evidence provided in support of the complaint, it was

Resolved:  (i)      That the subject of the complaint be asked to

                             reflect on his actions.

(ii)      That it be recommended that the wording of the Members’ Code of Conduct be reviewed.

Reasons:   (i)      Having viewed the evidence, Members agreed

that, in respect of the second part of the complaint, there appeared to have been a breach of the Code of Conduct but they determined that in this case a full investigation of the complaint would not be a good use of resources.

(ii)      To ensure that there is clarity in the Code regarding the required standards of behaviour. 

To consider complaints made against Members 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 two complaints made against three Members of a Council covered by the Joint Standards Committee and were asked to decide whether, and how, the matters should be pursued.

The substance of the complaints related to statements made by the Members during the course of a meeting of the Council of which they were Members.

The report of the Monitoring Officer and the views of the Independent Persons were noted.

Having considered the evidence provided in support of the complaint, it was

Resolved:  (i)      That the conduct of one of the Members be

referred for investigation, but consideration be given as to whether it was possible to resolve the complaint without the need for a full investigation.

(ii)      That no further action be taken in respect of the other two members.

Reasons:   (i)      The Sub-Committee considers that the facts of

the case indicate a prima facie breach of the Code by the Member concerned.

                   (ii)      That it is not considered that the facts of the case

indicate a prima facie breach of the Code by the two Members.