Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Corthorne

To approve the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 6 September 2010

The minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 6 September 2010 were approved as a correct record.

To note any declarations of interest in any matter before the Committee

There were no declarations of interest.

To consider and update the Committee’s Work Programme (attached)

The Committee’s Work Programme for the remainder of 2010/11 was noted.

To note the amendment to the rules as approved by Council (attached)

It was noted that at the last Council meeting a number of small changes to the Constitution had been approved including an amendment to the procedures to be undertaken when a complaint about an alleged breach of the Code of Conduct was received to the effect that, upon receipt of a written complaint, the Monitoring Officer would now additionally write to the Subject Member to request any additional information that may be required to assist with the assessment of the complaint. For clarification it was noted that the amendment did not allow for either the complainant or the Subject Member to attend the meeting of the Assessment Sub Committee.

To note the contents of the a letter to DCLG from London based Committee Chairmen (attached)

Members were reminded that the Government was currently drawing up proposals for the future of the Standards regime including the closure of Standards For England, and alternatives to the current complaints mechanisms. The contents of a letter to the Secretary of State at the DCLG from the majority of the London-based independent Chairmen of Standards Committees was noted as was the reply received from the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State. The reply appeared to indicate that the Government proposals would support the establishment of local Codes of Conduct and the maintaining of local Standards Committees but without any powers of sanction.

Whilst Members expressed concern at these proposals it was felt best to wait until the official and detailed proposals were published by the Government before determining a further course of action.

To note the summary of complaints for the last six months (attached)

This item was discussed in Part II without the press or public present as it contained confidential information as defined in the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985.

The Committee noted details of all the complaints made against Members to date.