Meeting documents

Standards Committee
Monday, 25th April, 2005 6.00 pm

Place:
Civic Suite, Civic Centre, Southend-on-Sea
 

Attendance Details

ItemDescriptionResolution
Part I
1155 Apologies and substitutions.
Councillor Ascroft. (The Chairman welcomed Mrs Jean Rowswell the new representative of Leigh-on-Sea Town Council).
1156 Declarations of interest.
There were no declarations of interest.
1157 Local Investigation of Complaints against Members and Revised Hearing Procedure Rules
Resolved:-

That the Council be recommended to:-

1. Agree the minor amendments to the "Hearing Procedure Rules for Local Determinations by the Standards Committee" contained in Part 4(i) of the Constitution, as set out in Appendix 1 to the report with the addition of a new paragraph 35 in the following terms:-

"All reasonable efforts should be made to hold the hearing at the earliest opportunity. Any delays resulting from the need to obtain additional evidence or as a consequence of a reference back to the ESO should be kept to a minimum. The Member and the Complainant should be kept informed of progress."

2. Adopt the "Procedure for Local Investigations" in the form set out in Appendix 2 to the report to be incorporated in Part 4(i) of the Constitution with the addition of a new paragraph 6 in the following terms:-

"6. General
All reasonable efforts should be made to conduct the Local Investigation as quickly as possible, commensurate with the carrying out of a full and proper process. The Member and Complainant should be kept informed of progress."

3. Adopt the amended Guidance in respect of the Hearing Procedure Rules and the Procedure for Local Investigations in the form set out in Appendix 3 to the report to be incorporated in Part 4(i) of the Constitution.

4. Note that there may be a need to appoint external investigators and potentially legal advisors for individual case hearings given the potential for a conflict of interest.
1158 Review of the Code of Conduct for Members
Resolved:-

That the response to the Standards Board's consultation document be as set out at Appendix 4 to the report with one amendment: In the response to Question 7 the response should be that the Code should remain in its current form.
1159 Informal Local Code of Conduct for Councillors and Officers Dealing with Planning Matters
Resolved:-

That a revised Informal Local Code of Conduct for Councillors and Officers Dealing with Planning Matters be prepared for consideration at the next meeting of the Standards Committee.
1160 Applications for Dispensations - re: Indemnities
Resolved:-

That dispensations be granted enabling all Members to speak and vote on the proposed scheme of general indemnity to Members.
18.00/19.15

Attendance Details

Present:
Rev S Burdett (Chairman), Cllr N M Baker (Vice-Chairman), Cllr A J Cole, Cllr Miss J K Cushion, Mrs V Farrell, Cllr D F Garne, Cllr Mrs J Rowswell, Mrs J Tetley.
In attendance:
J Williams and A Wallace

Business

ItemBusiness
1157The Committee considered a report by the Deputy Town Clerk & Monitoring Officer concerning implementation of the new Regulations which enable the Standards Board for England to refer complaints of misconduct by Members to the Monitoring Officer for local investigation. This will necessitate amendments to the current Hearing Procedure Rules in Part 4(i) of the Constitution and the introduction of a Procedure for Local Investigations.
1158The Committee considered a report by the Deputy Town Clerk & Monitoring Officer on a consultation exercise being carried out by the Standards Board for England in respect of possible changes to the Code of Conduct for Members.
1159The Committee considered a report by the Deputy Town Clerk & Monitoring Officer on the publication of revised guidance by the Local Government Association concerning Member engagement in planning matters and to consider the implications for the Informal Local Code of Conduct for Councillors and Officers Dealing with Planning Matters in Part 5(c) of the Constitution.
1160The Committee considered a report by the Deputy Town Clerk & Monitoring Officer on applications for dispensations to enable Members to speak and vote on a forthcoming report on indemnities for Members.

 

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