Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.  The recently appointed Director of Customer, Democratic and Legal Services and Monitoring Officer, Andrew Docherty, was introduced to the Committee. 

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Mrs Joan Geddes and Councillors Alan Cain and Keith Iddon. 

Members of the Committee are reminded of their responsibility to declare any personal interest in respect of matters contained in this agenda in accordance with the provisions of the Local Government Act 2000, the Council’s Constitution and the Members Code of Conduct.  If the personal interest is a prejudicial interest, then the individual Member should not participate in a discussion on the matter and must withdraw from the room and not seek to influence a decision on the matter.

No interests were declared. 

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the Standards Committee held on 15th November 2005 (enclosed)

Resolved - That the minutes of the meeting of the Standards Committee held on 15 November 2005 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To appoint the Members of the Standards Sub-Committee for the ensuing Municipal Year. 

The Committee discussed the role of the Standards Sub-Committee to review the Register of Interests and the gifts and hospitality register, for both Borough and Parish Councillors. 

RESOLVED – That the Membership of the Standards Sub-Committee for the ensuing Municipal Year be: Mr Tony Ellwood, Rev John Cree and Councillor Thomas Bedford, Reserve Member Councillor Thomas McGowan.  

The Chair will give a verbal report on the recent Fifth Annual Assembly of Standards Committees. 

The Chair outlined the business undertaken at the recent Annual Assembly of Standards Committees that took place in Birmingham. 

The Minister for Local Government, Phil Woolas, gave an address.  The local Government White Paper, due to be issued in the next few months, was likely to be devolutionary and look to empower local government, Councillors and local people in keeping with the future role of the Standards Committee.  The revised draft Code is likely to be issued before the elections next May to be operative by 2008.  Reference was made to Monitoring Officers linking with other Authorities to assist in the additional work load, but no guidance was give in relation to financial arrangements or how the arrangements would work.

Other topics discussed were proposed filter arrangements to deal with allegations of complaints, separate Sub-Committees to deal with referrals and hearings and training for Standards Committees, Councillors and Parish Councillors. 

RESOLVED –

1.                  That the discussion be noted,

2.                  That the Chair of the Standards Committee be invited to attend the section of the induction day for new Members relating to Standards. 

The Monitoring Officer will update the Committee on training issues, in particular with respect to newly elected Councillors. 

The Monitoring Officer advised that training would be provided on the revised Code of Conduct once it was adopted.  It was noted that each Borough Councillor had been offered a Personal Development Plan and that the time of the Members Learning Hour was being revised to increase the attendance levels. 

RESOLVED –

1.                  That the update on training be noted,

2.                  That training on Standards should be offered a couple of times per year with the sessions being offered to Parish Councils,

3.                  That the possibility of holding the Standards Committee in a Parish to raise awareness be investigated,

4.                  That the suggestion that members of the Standards Committee attend meetings of Parish Councils and give a short talk on Standards issues be considered further. 

The Committee will watch a DVD about Local Hearings. 

The Committee watched a DVD entitled “Going Local – Investigations and Hearings” made by the Standards Board for England.  It was noted that the DVD was informative and a good training tool.

RESOLVED –

1.                  That the DVD be noted,

2.                  That the DVD be lent to the Members of the Standards Committee who had submitted their apologies. 

Verbal update from the Monitoring Officer.

One.

Verbal update from the Monitoring Officer.

None.

Verbal update from the Monitoring Officer.

One.

The Chair suggested that an article relating to Standards be considered for a future edition of Chorley Borough News.  Officers undertook to organise this.