Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence had been received from Councillor Jones and Rev Peggy Jackson.

Members are asked to declare any interests in matters for consideration at the meeting.

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 3 October 2007 attached.

The minutes of the meeting held on 3 October 2007 bereceived and the Chair be authorised to sign them subject to the following alterations:

Minute No. 17.

The addition of Mr Norman Buckley to the list of apologies received.

Minute No.21.

The substitution of the words “notice of intended representations” for “ prior representation” in the second line of the 9^th paragraph.

There were no representations from members of the public.

The Committee is invited to view a presentation of the new Standards Board training DVD (now received) and discuss or comment on any issues arising.

The showing of the Standards Board’s DVD was held over to the next meeting.

This report summarises the key issues raised at the meeting of the Annual Assembly of Standards Committees, at which the Committee was represented.

Report of the Head of Legal & Electoral Services attached.

The Chair’s report be noted.

Drawing on the feedback from the Annual Assembly, the Committee saw its role as fostering a good climate rather than punishing bad behaviour; as ensuring that Members were well-trained and educated in relation to the Code of Conduct; as safeguarding the interests of the public sector; and as encouraging well run committees. Another lesson from the Assembly had been not to overlook that much could be achieved through discipline within party groups.

The Head of Legal Services tabled a schedule listing issues for the Committee to address in preparation for its new, extended role. The Committee made a number of detailed comments as summarized below.

Nos. 1/2. Number and membership of Sub-Committees

At least two sub-committees would be required because of the right of appeal against the sifting decision (which would have to be heard by a separate meeting comprising Members who had not been involved in the original decision). It was thought that a formal meeting would have to be convened to take decisions on sifting, with a record of the proceedings and reasons for the decision; teleconferencing was unlikely to be an option.  To ensure flexibility, the Committee should not commit itself to the composition of sub-committees in terms of the balance between councillor and independent Members.

No.3. Chairing of Sub-Committees

Training would be necessary.

Nos. 4/5 Turn-round time for initial decision and conflicts of interest

21 days given the need to convene a meeting. A sub-committee would require two or three officer advisers plus an investigator, each with separate roles, because of the potential conflicts of interest.

Nos.6/7. Future contact point for complaints

A contact would need to be identified for the receipt of complaints eg. the Head of Democratic Services who would be responsible for notifying the Chair.

No.10. Resources in Democratic and Legal Services

An officer within Democratic Services would also need to be designated to notify complainants and the Councillor who was the subject of the complaint. The Committee suggested that Democratic Services might need additional staff for this work bearing in mind the expected increase in workload and the requirement to record the proceedings of hearings into complaints. The Committee’s new role would certainly require more experience from Democratic Services than hitherto. A risk assessment would be required.

An article should be published in Arcadia or the local press in March 2008 and the Chair undertook to meet the Leader of the Council and the Leader of the Opposition beforehand. Briefings would also need to be provided to reception staff and staff in the Contact Centre, as well as Citizens Advice Bureaux etc. A complaint form would be drawn up, perhaps also with Q&A.

No. 14. Use of Mediation

There appeared to be no mechanism for mediation, unless this were introduced by regulations.

No. 17. Strategic interaction

The Chair had already met the Chief Executive to discuss possible approaches including a future meeting with the Leaders, the impact in terms of the Corporate Plan, and the Local  ...  view the full minutes text for item 30.

This report summarises the key changes introduced by this new Act in relation to the Ethical Framework for local authorities, and in particular the new roles of the Standards Board and of Standards Committees.

Report of the Head of Legal & Electoral Services attached.

The report be noted.

[Most of the issues in the report had been discussed as part of the consideration of the previous item.]

This item enables members of the Committee to provide any relevant feedback in relation to meetings that they have attended as observers since the last meeting.

Mrs Fraser had attended a meeting of the Transport Consultative Group and also a meeting of one of the CPPGs.

The Chair had attended the Council meeting held on 27 November 2007.

The Chair drew attention to the notes of an informal meeting with Committee Chairs which had taken place on 8 October 2007. Copies were tabled at the meeting. In discussion it was suggested that training on the revised Code of Conduct should be offered again to co-opted members of the Overview and Scrutiny Committees ( some of whom had not attended training), in addition to the newly elected Councillor for the Barnes Ward and the four Councillors who had not attended the training organised earlier in the year.

The Head of Legal Services undertook to make the necessary arrangements and to update the written advice to Councillors on their duties and obligations as trustees of charitable and other such bodies.

It was emphasised that chairing skills training should also be offered to Members as part of the Council’s Member development programme.

The Head of Legal Services will provide a verbal update to the Committee on other recent standards developments not covered elsewhere in the agenda, including developments regarding work in progress and on ethical governance issues.

Noted latest Bulletin from the Standards Board, the contents of which covered many of the points already considered by the Committee related to the local standards framework.

The Head of Legal Services undertook to issue a reminder to Members about how the Code applies to them as school governors.