Agenda item

The Principal Solicitor for Governance presented the Standards Regime Monitoring Officer’s report.

Since the last report the Council had received three new complaints.  Each were assessed and found not to be a member conduct matter.

The next meeting of the Constitution Review Working Group (CRWG) was due to take place on 29^th January 2025.  Any recommendations arising from that meeting would be reported to the Council meeting due to take place on 19^th February 2025.

The next meeting of the Member Development Steering Group (MDSG) was due to take place on Monday 20^th January 2025.

Relevant Member training sessions had taken place since the last Monitoring Officer’s report, or which were due to take place were detailed in the report.

Following consideration of the report, Members made the following comments:

• It was requested that a list of Members on the Development Steering Group (MDSG) Committee be made available to Members and if the Notes were available for Audit, Standards and Governance Members’ consideration? – Officers agreed to review the request as an action.
• Members noted that three complaints had been reported since the last meeting.  It was queried if the necessary forms had been completed and how they were assessed? – In response Members were informed that the three complaints within the report were all considered to be non-Member conduct matters, as the individuals were not acting as capacity of Councillor, in which the Code of Conduct only applied.  As part of the review, completion of the relevant forms was sometimes requested but were not always a requirement.  The Monitoring Officer or Deputy Monitoring Officer initially reviewed the complaint to determine if the complaint couldand should be investigated i.e. if the person was acting in capacity as Member.  If it was a consideration, the individual would   comment in the first instance, where possible.
• Members requested the term “independent person” be explained further. – Members were advised that if a complaint was to be reviewed formally, the views of the Independent Person would be sought.
• Members were also asked to note that a consultation (responses due by 26^th February 2025) regarding proposed changes to the Standards Framework would be discussed at a Group Leaders Meeting in early February 2025.
• Members discussed whether an Independent Member with an accountancy background should be present during Audit, Standards and Governance Committee meetings as good practice. – Members were informed that there was a difference between an Independent   Member and an Independent Person.  The consultation is seeking views on whether Independent Members should be given voting rights.
• Members queried if Parish Councillors were reported as part of the monitoring process. – Members were informed that Parish Councillors did form part of the monitoring process but confirmed that the three complaints received and contained within the report were confirmed as District Councillors.
• It was queried if County Councillors were part of reporting. – It was confirmed that complaints concerning County Councillors would be sent to the Monitoring Officer at County Council.
• Following Members’ consideration of the necessary forms to be completed for a complaint, it was requested that further information be provided to assist Member’s understanding of the complaints within the report. – In response the Principal Solicitor for Governance informed the Committee that two of the reports were Member to Member complaints and the other remaining complaint received from the public to a person acting entirely as a member of the public and not as a Member. 

The Chairman concluded discussions and suggested that a review of the Standards Regime Monitoring Officer report was required to assist Members’ future considerations of the report.  It was suggested that further details specifically be included to advise who the complaint was referring to i.e. if a Parish Councillor or a District Councillor and who filed the initial complaint i.e. if from a Member or the Public.  It was agreed that this would be reviewed.

RESOLVED that subject to Members’ comments, the report be noted.