Agenda and minutes
PDF 98 KBVenue: The Council House, Burcot Lane, Bromsgrove. View directions
Contact: Debbie Parker-Jones Andy C. Stephens
| No. | Item |
|---|---|
|
Apologies for absence Minutes: Apologies for absence were received from Mrs. N. E. Trigg (Independent Chairman) and Mr. I. A. Hodgetts (Deputy Parish Council Representative). |
|
|
Declarations of Interest Minutes: No declarations of interest were received. |
|
|
Minutes: The minutes of the meeting of the Standards Committee held on 14th June 2007 were submitted.
RESOLVED that the minutes be approved as a correct record. |
|
|
Council Decisions on Standards Committee matters To receive a report advising of the decisions made by the Council in relation to the New Code of Conduct for Members and the Appointment of Parish Council Representatives to the Standards Committee. Minutes: A report advising of the decisions made by the Council in relation to the new Code of Conduct for Members, as modified by the Standards Committee at its meeting on 14th June 2007 to include local amendments, and the Appointment of Parish Council Representatives to the Standards Committee was submitted.
Reference was also made to the Members' Interests Guide (copy attached to these minutes), which had been drawn up by officers following the introduction of the new Code and which it was noted would be available at all meetings of the Council's committees for quick reference.
RESOLVED that the contents of the report and the Members' Interests Guide be noted. |
|
|
Ombudsman Complaint Statistics - Update Further to the Ombudsman Complaint Statistics report presented at the last meeting, to receive an oral update from officers in relation to the subject matter of the miscellaneous category of 6 complaints referred to by the Ombudsman, and to receive statistical data in relation to complaints applicable to other neighbouring authorities. Minutes: Further to the request made by the Committee at its previous meeting, the Deputy Monitoring Officer provided an update on the subject matter of the six "other" complaints referred to in the annual statistics compiled by the office of the Local Government Ombudsman on complaints recorded against the Council during the twelve month period ending 31st March 2007. It was noted that the complaints covered: leisure and culture; homelessness; waste management; enforcement (Planning - although it was not known why this had not been included in the category of Planning and Building Control); transport and highways (this complaint having been referred to the County Council); and a miscellaneous matter.
Statistics were also provided in relation to Ombudsman complaints listed for other local authorities within Worcestershire. Although Bromsgrove had the highest number of complaints determined, none of these had resulted in a finding of maladministration. The Committee noted that the Council encouraged the right of parties to complain where this was felt to be necessary and there was a legitimate case for doing so.
RESOLVED that the position be noted. |
|
|
Update on Local Investigations To receive an update from officers on local investigations currently taking place. Minutes: The Committee was advised that two local investigations into Member conduct were currently underway. The Investigating Officer had completed a draft report for one of these, which it was noted would necessitate an additional meeting of the Committee being convened for some time in September in order to decide whether a final determination hearing was required for this. The second investigation was still in the process of being completed and would likely be dealt with at the Committee's October meeting.
Exceptional circumstances had resulted in a slight delay with the initial investigations for these, which the Standards Board for England had been kept fully advised of and were satisfied with the position.
RESOLVED that the position be noted. |
|
|
Standards Committees in Worcestershire To consider a proposal from Mr. J. C. Blakeley, (Independent) Chairman of Wychavon District Council Standards Committee, on the coming together of Standards Committee members on a county-wide basis. Minutes: The Committee considered a proposal from Mr. J. C. Blakeley, Chairman of Wychavon District Council Standards Committee, on the coming together of Standards Committee members on a county-wise basis to discuss issues of relevance to Standards Committees.
Members supported the proposal, which it was felt would be of particular use during the first twelve months of the introduction of local filtering of complaints. It was felt that both the Chairman of the Committee and the Council's Monitoring Officer should attend the meetings, and that if the Chairman was unavailable the Vice-Chairman should attend in his/her place.
RESOLVED: (a) that the Committee support the proposal; and (b) that it be requested that in the event of the Chairman of the Committee not being available to attend a meeting, the Vice-Chairman be permitted to attend in his/her place. |
|
|
Standards Committee - Member Training To receive any suggestions from members for areas to be included in the Standards Committee training taking place at the Council House on Thursday, 6th September 2007. Minutes: A draft programme for 'The Changing Role of the Standards Committee' training which would take place at the Council House on 6th September 2007 was circulated and minor amendments were made to the running order of this. It was felt that practical scenarios would be particularly useful with such training. Changes to the current arrangements for the 'first sieve' of complaints was to be covered at the training, which the Deputy Monitoring Officer advised would also likely be included on the agenda for the Committee's October meeting for further discussion.
It was also noted that a further 'Mock Council' training session would take place on 11th October 2007, which Mr. Cypher (the Parish Council Representative) expressed an interest in attending and which it was felt would be of use to the other new members of the Committee who had not attended the previous session of this.
RESOLVED: (a) that the programme for 'The Changing Role of the Standards Committee' training session due to take place on 6th September 2007 be approved, subject to the minor amendments agreed to the running order of this; and (b) that arrangements be sought for Mr. J. Cypher (Parish Council Representative) and any other members of the Standards Committee to attend the 'Mock Council' training session due to take place on 11th October 2007 should they so wish.
|
|
|
Interests - A Guide for Members Attending Meetings |