Agenda and minutes

Confirmation of the Minutes of the Standards Committee meeting held on 22 November 2017.

It was proposed by Councillor Julian, seconded by Councillor Langmead and –

Resolved:

That the Minutes of the meeting held on 22 November be agreed and signed as a correct record.

(Vote:  For 2, Abstentions 4)

Members with interests to declare should refer to the agenda item and describe the nature of their interest when the item is being considered.

The Chair asked that declarations of interest be made as and when the specific agenda item to which they related was under discussion.

Councillor T Inch asked the Senior Solicitor why the complaint update was in Part II of the Agenda.

The Senior Solicitor confirmed that the complaint update was in Part II of the Agenda as the update included personal details.

It was proposed by Councillor Julian, seconded by Councillor Brown and

Resolved: That the agenda, as circulated, be agreed.

(Vote:  For Unanimous)

The Senior Solicitor confirmed that the responses he received to the consultation titled ‘Disqualification criteria for Councillors and Mayors’ had been forwarded onto the Department for Communities and Local Government.

To receive the report of the Senior Solicitor.

The Senior Solicitor confirmed that the Committee had previously discussed preparing an annual report for submission to Full Council each year. The report would provide a summary of the work that the Standards Committee intends to carry out over the course of each year with the aim of improving the understanding and awareness of the role and function of the Standards Committee.

Members discussed the draft annual report and Councillor Boundy commented that the annual report would be useful to the Parish’s as it would set out the role of the Standards Committee.

It was proposed by Councillor Julian, seconded by Councillor Brown and –

Resolved:

That the Standards Committee approve the draft annual report for submission to Full Council, subject to any amendments emailed to the Senior Solicitor.

(Vote: For – unanimous)

To receive the reports from the Senior Solicitor

Councillor Brown declared an interest and the Senior Solicitor clarified that she may make a representation in support of her application, but would need to step away from the table and take no part in the discussion or vote.

The Senior Solicitor presented the report and drew Members attention to the two requests for dispensation received from the Councillors.

Councillor Brown addressed the Committee and explained the reasons for her request for dispensation.

Councillor Brown stepped away from the table and took no part in the discussion or vote.

It was proposed by Councillor Langmead, seconded by Councillor Julian and –

Resolved:

To grant a dispensation to Councillor Brown for both STITCH Group and North Devon Save Our Hospital Services (SOHS) and Councillor Simmons for SOHS, for a duration of four years, in order that Councillor Brown and Councillor Simmons may speak and vote on relevant matters; subject to the normal contraints.

(Vote: For – unanimous)

To receive a verbal update from the Senior Solicitor.

Town and Parish Representative Richard Clark confirmed that he had attended High Bickington Parish Meeting on 14 February. Richard Clark confirmed that he presented a presentation on what the Standards Committee do, Nolan principles and also went through the information provided at the Standards training session. Richard Clark believed that the presentation was worth while and that he had been asked by a number of parish councillors for a copy of the presentation.

The Senior Solicitor requested that Richard Clark send a copy of his presentation to the committee.

Councillor T Inch raised an issue that a number of Parish Councils do not have standing orders.

Members discussed and the Senior Solicitor agreed that he could contact Parish clerks to if they have standing orders in place. The Senior Solicitor also confirmed that this item could be added to a future area advisory group meeting.

Members discussed items for the forward plan and suggested Exempt Confidential Information be added to the Forward plan for the Standards Committee to produce an information sheet which could be produced for all Members & Parishes for guidance.

Mr Clark suggested that carrying out a dress rehearsal of a hearing procedure would be beneficial.

The Chair to move :

That the public be excluded from the remainder of the meeting because of the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in )Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

It was proposed by Councillor Boundy, seconded by Councillor Brown –

That under Section 100(a)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended) the public be exclude from the meeting for the following items of business because of the likely disclosure of exempt information by virtue of Paragraph 1 of Part 1 and Paragraph 10 of Part 2 of schedule 12A of the local Government Act 1972.

(Vote: For – Unanimous)

To receive a verbal update from the Senior Solicitor.

The Senior Solicitor provided a verbal update on the recent complaints received.

Brief details were given for the recent complaints.

The Complaint update was duly noted.

It was proposed by Councillor Julian, seconded by Councillor Brown and –

Resolved:

That the meeting return to Part I and that any press and public be readmitted.

(Vote: For – unanimous)