Agenda and minutes

Members are invited to declare at this stage of the meeting, any relevant personal and prejudicial interests and discloseable pecuniary interests in any matter to be considered at this meeting.

There were no declarations made by Members at this stage (see Minute No.3 below).

The minutes of the previous meeting, held on Monday 22 September 2016, were approved as a correct record, subject to Sheila Darr (Independent Member) being recorded as in attendance.

Minute No.5: Members’ Code of Conduct Complaint

The Chief Executive made reference to the above matter, which was considered by the Committee at its last meeting held on 22 September 2016.

The Chief Executive referred to a letter dated 30 September 2016 that she had sent to Members of the Committee (a copy of which is attached) and advised the Committee that a statement made and published within Section 3.8 to the investigation report had been redacted and removed from the Council’s Website.

The statement, which had been directed at Councillor Kabir, had subsequently been found to be untrue and that the Councillor in question, having realised the mistake he had made had since apologised unreservedly to Councillor Kabir, which she had accepted.  As a result, it was not necessary to take any further action in respect of the statement.

Given the foregoing, Councillor Kabir declared a personal interest in respect of this matter and took no part in the discussion that had taken place.

This is the Monitoring Officer’s Annual Report to the Standards Committee for 2016 and provides an update on Member conduct issues, and the work of the Standards Committee and the Monitoring Officer during this year.

The Council’s Senior Solicitor (Governance) introduced the annual report of the Council’s former Chief Legal Officer and Monitoring Officer to the Standards Committee for 2016, and provided an update on Member conduct issues and the work of the Standards Committee and the Monitoring Officer during this year.

In response to a question on the invitation extended to Co-opted Members for mandatory training held in July 2016, Ms Darr said that she had not received any such invitation.  In response, the Council’s Senior Solicitor (Governance) advised that the training was targeted at new Co-opted Members, however, if any Member (co-opted or otherwise) felt that they would benefit from a further session, they should contact the Head of Executive and Member Services.

RESOLVED, that the Annual Report to the Standards Committee 2016, be noted.

The next meeting of the committee is scheduled to take place on 22 March 2017.

It was noted that the next meeting of the Committee was scheduled to be held on Wednesday 22 March 2017.

Notice of items to be raised under this heading must be given in writing to the Head of Executive and Member Services or his representative before the meeting in accordance with Standing Order 64.

There was no other urgent business.

The meeting was declared closed at 7.16pm.

COUNCILLOR J ALLIE

Chair