Issue - meetings

The minutes of the meeting of the Worcestershire Shared Services Joint Committee held on 21st November 2013 were submitted.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Worcestershire Shared Services Joint Committee be approved as a correct record, subject to the following:

That it be noted in respect of Minute No. 23/13 that Councillor Mrs. L. Denham, Worcester City Council had informed Members that she was a Member of the Worcestershire Hub Shared Service on the advice of the Host Authority’s Principal Solicitor that she should do so.

After the meeting Councillor Mrs. L. Denham had sought advice from Julie Slater, Monitoring Officer, Worcester City Council.  Councillor Mrs. L. Denham informed Members that she had received written confirmation from the Monitoring Officer, Worcester City Council that the item under discussion, and from which she was excluded, related to the provision and funding of the telephone answering service provided to Worcestershire Regulatory Services by the Worcestershire Hub.  The Worcester City Council Monitoring Officer stated that after reviewing the Council’s constitution she advised that in her view there was no conflict of interest.  A copy of the letter received by Councillor Mrs. L. Denham was provided to the Democratic Services Officer for noting.

At the request of the Chairman, the Host Authority’s Principal Solicitor Ms. C. Flanagan responded to Councillor Mrs. L. Denham and in doing so informed Members that she had been in contact with the Monitoring Officer, Worcester City Council with regard to the concerns raised by Councillor Mrs. L. Denham.  The Principal Solicitor further informed Members that the role of a Councillor was to be open and transparent about personal interests.  The letter received from the Worcestershire Hub Shared Service (WHSS) Management Board was, at the agreement of the Chairman, received as an urgent item at the Worcestershire Shared Services Joint Committee meeting on 26th September 2013.  Minute Number 21/13 of that meeting details that Councillor Mrs. L.  Denham informed Members that she was a Member of the Worcestershire Hub Shared Service Board and had been present at a meeting of the WHSS where the letter had been discussed.  On that basis there may have been a conflict of interest which would need to be identified. 

Ms. C. Flanagan explained to Councillor Mrs. L. Denham that it was relevant to minute that she was a Member of the WHSS in the interests of openness and transparency during a public meeting, to avoid any conflict of interest or pre-determination being perceived and that she supported the view that any such interest should be declared and noted.  Following any legal advice given it did not exclude her from participating in the agenda item under discussion should she chose to participate.

Councillor Mrs. L. Denham stated she felt she had been given conflicting legal advice.  She was here to represent the citizens of Worcester City and had wanted to seek clarification that she was able to speak and participate on the agenda item in question.