Agenda and minutes

Standards Committee Assessment Sub-Committee - Tuesday, 20th April, 2010 10.00 am

Venue: ROOM A231, CIVIC CENTRE, HIGH STREET, UXBRIDGE

Contact: Nav Johal 

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies for absence and to report the presence of any substitute members

Minutes:

Apologises from Malcolm Ellis, substituted by Allan Edwards.

2.

Disclosure of 'Any Other Business' items to be considered in public and private

Minutes:

There were no other items to discuss.

3.

Declarations of interest in matters coming before this meeting

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest in matters coming before this meeting.

4.

Confirmation that all items marked Part I will be considered in public and that those marked Part 2 will be considered in private

Minutes:

Exclusion of the press and public: It was confirmed that the business of the meeting would be conducted in private.

5.

Initial assessment of complaint A

Minutes:

The Assessment Sub-Committee considered an allegation made by Mr Mike Gettleson, a member of the public, that Councillor Douglas Mills had contravened the following provisions of the Revised Members' Code of Conduct [''the Code''] which he had undertaken in writing to observe:

 

  • Paragraph 5 imposes an obligation on a Member not to conduct himself in a manner which could reasonably be regarded as bringing his office or authority into disrepute.

 

  • Paragraph 6[a] imposes an obligation on a Member not to use or attempt to use his position as a Member improperly to confer on or secure for himself or any other person, an advantage or disadvantage.

 

  • Paragraph 6[b] requires a Member, when using or authorising the use by others of the resources of his authority -

 

[i]         to act in accordance with his authority's reasonable requirements; [These are set out in the Members’ ICT Usage Policy].

 

[ii]        ensure that such resources are not used improperly for political purposes [including party political purposes].

 

Whilst Members concluded that the allegation, if proven, would constitute a breach of the Code it was considered by a majority that the complaint was politically motivated.

 

Members consulted with the Monitoring Officer and decided that the most appropriate action to take was for the Monitoring Officer and Deputy Monitoring Officer to arrange to provide training to Councillor Mills in relation to all the provisions of the Code as soon as practicable.

 

 

RESOLVED:

  1. That the allegation be referred to the Monitoring Officer.

 

  1. The Monitoring Officer and Deputy Monitoring Officer to provide training to Councillor Mills in relation to all the provisions of the Code as soon as practicable.

 

 

A full written summary of the decision is available to the public.