Agenda and minutes
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Contact: Debbie Parker-Jones
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Appointment of new Independent Member on the Standards Committee [To note that, following interviews which took place with the Appointments Committee on 14th January 2010, the Council, as its meeting on 20th January 2010, appointed Ms. Kimara Sharpe to serve as an Independent Member on the Standards Committee for a four year term of office expiring 20th January 2014.] Minutes: It was noted that at its meeting on 20th January 2010 Full Council had appointed Ms. Kimara Sharpe to serve as an Independent Member on the Standards Committee for a four-year term of office expiring 20th January 2014. |
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Apologies for absence Minutes: Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Mrs. A. E. Doyle.
It was noted that Ms. K. J. Sharpe, newly appointed Independent Member on the Committee, was not in attendance as she had not yet received the required standards training in order to take up her place on the Committee. She would, however, be receiving this shortly. |
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Declarations of Interest Minutes: No declarations of interest were received. |
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[To make a final determination in relation to an alleged failure by a Parish Councillor to follow the Code of Conduct.] Additional documents:
Minutes: Further to Minute No. 29/09 of the meeting of the Standards Committee held on 23rd September 2009, the Committee considered a report on an alleged failure to follow the Code of Conduct.
The complaint concerned an allegation that following implementation by the Catshill and North Marlbrook Parish Council of the new Members' Code of Conduct on 26th June 2008, Councillor Dale Carter had failed to complete and return his Register of Members' Interests form in accordance with the statutory requirement to do so within 28 days.
A report of the Investigating Officer dated 14th August 2009, which had found that Councillor Carter had failed to follow the Code of Conduct in relation to the complaint, was considered. The Committee was asked to determine whether, based on the facts set out in the report, it agreed with the Investigating Officer's findings.
RESOLVED: (a) that Councillor Carter had failed to follow the Code of Conduct by being in breach of Part 3 paragraph 13 (1) in that he did not provide the Monitoring Officer with the Register of Members' Interests form within 28 days of the Code of Conduct being adopted by Catshill and North Marlbrook Parish Council; and (b) that Councillor Carter be suspended as a parish councillor for a period not exceeding 2 months, effective from 10th February 2010 to 9th April 2010, provided that the suspension shall cease to take effect prior to 9th April upon receipt of a suitable letter of apology from Councillor Carter, as approved by the Chairman of the Committee in consultation with the Monitoring Officer.
(A copy of the Committee's full decision, together with the reasons for it, is appended.) |
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Monitoring Officer's Report [To receive a report from the Monitoring Officer on any matters of relevance to the Committee.] Additional documents:
Minutes: The Committee noted the contents of the Monitoring Officer's report.
In relation to paragraph 3.5 of the report, the Chairman advised that both he and Mr. Cypher had attended the meeting with John Williams, Relationship Manager, and Jonathan Wigmore, Ethical Standards Officer, of Standards for England ("SfE").
The Chairman stated that the reasons for the Committee's reluctance to refer matters to SfE for investigation, which were as a consequence of previous SfE investigation decisions, had been explained at the meeting and that there had been some constructive dialogue regarding apparent differences in local and national standards. A letter which had been received from John Williams and which followed-up on issues raised at the meeting was appended to the report for the Committee's information.
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