Location: Shimkent Room, Daneshill House
Present: Members: Mr D. Morgan (Independent Chair), Councillors, M. Notley and K. Vale
Others:
Duration:
Start Time: 6.00p.m.
End Time: 6.50p.m.
Status: Noted
Business: Apologies for absence were received from Mr. S. Gillies (Independent Member) and Councillor Mrs. J.E. Lloyd.
There were no declarations of interest.
Decision:
Status: Agreed
Business:
Decision: It was RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee, held on Monday, 5th July 2004, be confirmed and signed by the Chair as a correct recrod.
Status: Noted
Business: The Borough Solicitor submitted a report advising of the new arrangements for the investigation by the Monitoring Officer of certain complaints against Members.
The investigation regulations now require Monitoring Officers to investigate complaints referred to them by the Standards Board for England and to make a finding of whether or not there has been a breach of the Code. The finding is then referred to the Standards Committee for determination.
The Borough Solicitor advised the Committee that the Guidance to Monitoring Officers notes that they have four main roles:-
- to provide advice to the Standards Committee.
- to advise Members about conduct issues generally.
- to advise Members who are the subject of allegations and;
- to advise the person making an allegation and conduct investigations
The Committee noted the important features of the regulations including:-
- requirement for all complaints to be made firstly to the Standards Board for England.
- the issue of confidentiality
- the Monitoring Officer should issue a draft report to key parties of the investigation
- once a finding has been reached, the procedure for the Monitoring Officer and the Standards Committee to follow.
A discussion was held regarding the potential for conflict for the Borough Solicitor in his advisory role and his Monitoring Officer Role. It was agreed that if the Borough Solicitor felt that he was in conflict then we would get someone in from another authority to take on the Monitoring Officer role for any investigation/hearing.
The Committee then noted the sanctions open to the Standards Committee.
The Borough Solicitor advised that to date there had been no complaints against any Member of Stevenage Council.
Decision: It was RESOLVED that the report be noted.
Status: Noted
Business: It was agreed that the following issues should be reported to the next or future meetings of the Committee.
1. Officers Code of Conduct
2. Report on Ombudsman Procedures
3. Audit Report
The Committee also noted that David Morgan would be standing down as Chair of the Committee from May, 2006.
Decision:
Status: Noted
Business: None.
Decision:
Status: Noted
Business: None.
Decision: