Agenda and decisions

Members are required to notify any substitutions by midday on the day of the meeting.

Late substitutions will not be accepted and Members attending as a substitute without having given the due notice will not be able to take part in the meeting.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Ruth Brown, Val Bryant and Sean Prendergast.

Apologies for absence were also received from Parish Councillor Martin Griffin and Reserve Independent Person Steve Tant.

Having given due notice Councillor Caroline Mcdonnell substituted for Councillor Brown and Councillor Emma Fernandes substituted for Councillor Bryant.

To take as read and approve as a true record the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on the 27 March 2024.

RESOLVED:That the Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee held on 27 March 2024 be approved as a true record of the proceedings and be signed by the Chair.

Members should notify the Chair of other business which they wish to be discussed at the end of either Part I or Part II business set out in the agenda. They must state the circumstances which they consider justify the business being considered as a matter of urgency.

The Chair will decide whether any item(s) raised will be considered.

There was no other business notified.

Members are reminded that any declarations of interest in respect of any business set out in the agenda, should be declared as either a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest or Declarable Interest and are required to notify the Chair of the nature of any interest declared at the commencement of the relevant item on the agenda.  Members declaring a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest must withdraw from the meeting for the duration of the item. Members declaring a Declarable Interest, wishing to exercise a ‘Councillor Speaking Right’, must declare this at the same time as the interest, move to the public area before speaking to the item and then must leave the room before the debate and vote.

(1)   The Chair advised that, in accordance with Council policy this meeting would be recorded.

(2)   The Chair drew attention to the item on the agenda front pages regarding Declarations of Interest and reminded Members that, in line with the Code of Conduct, any Declarations of Interest needed to be declared immediately prior to the item in question.

(3)   The Chair advised for the purpose of clarification Clause 4.8.23(a) of the Constitution does not apply to this meeting.

(4)   The Chair clarified matters for the registered speaker.

To receive petitions, comments and questions from the public.

A verbal presentation was received from Mr David Cook on Agenda Item 6 ‘Standards Matters Report’.

REPORT OF SERVICE DIRECTOR LEGAL & COMMUNITY  / THE MONITORING OFFICER.

The report updates Members of the Committee on standards issues locally and nationally. It contains a summary of the complaints concluded or received since the last report was presented, as well as any other relevant issues that have arisen between Committee meetings on relevant local (e.g. training provided/ undertaken, and consultation on changes to the Standards Committee).

RESOLVED:

(1)   That the Committee noted the content of the report and made suggestions on future actions.

(2)   That the Committee noted the potential changes to the Standards Committee and survey responses detailed in paragraph 8.11-8.19.

(3)   That the Committee recommended that the working party be urged to retain and strengthen this Committee in consultation with the recommendations and comments from the Independent Person.

(4)   That the Monitoring Officer reviews and reports back to the Committee on:

       i.         Whether the existing three month time limit for complaints to be brought was reasonable and proportionate; and

     ii.         Whether the introduction of a secondary jurisdiction time limit based on constructive knowledge was reasonable and proportionate.

REASON FOR DECISIONS: To ensure good governance within the Council.

REPORT OF THE LEGAL MANAGER / DEPUTY MONITORING OFFICER.

The report updates Members of the Committee on the LLG Code of Practice on Good Governance for Local Authority Statutory Officers. It contains a summary of the key objectives, roles and responsibilities.

RESOLVED: That the Committee noted the content of the report and Appendix A, and made suggestions on future actions, particularly with reference to 7.6 and 7.7 of this report.

REASON FOR DECISION: To ensure good governance within the Council.