Agenda and minutes

To receive declarations of interest from Members in respect of items listed on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest.

To consider whether the press and public should be excluded from the meeting during consideration of any part of the agenda.

Agenda Items 6 and 7 both have appendices which are exempt from the press and public.

Resolved:-  That, under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for Minute No. 115 (Consideration of Complaints) and 116 (Whistleblowing Concerns) as the reports had confidential appendices on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

To consider and approve the minutes of the previous meeting held on 21^st January, 2021 as a true and correct record of the proceedings.

Resolved:-  That the minutes of the previous meeting held on Thursday, 21^st January, 2021 be approved as a true and correct record of the proceedings.

To receive a verbal update from officers as to the receipt of Register of Interest Forms.

Consideration was given to an update by the Deputy Monitoring Officer relating to the satisfactory completion of the Register of Interest Forms by Elected Members following the election.  A number of discrepancies were highlighted which were being referred to the relevant Members and for these to be rectified before being published on the Council’s website.

The Chair, on behalf of the Committee, would like Members to be reminded on a monthly basis of the need to maintain their Register of Interest and ensure that it was completed correctly and kept up-to-date.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the update be received and the detail noted.

(2) That steps be taken to remind Elected Members on a monthly basis to maintain their Register of Interest and ensure it was kept up-to-date.

To give consideration to a report updating the Committee on the Complaints received against Members of the Council, and Town and Parish Councillors alleging a breach of the Code of Conduct.

Consideration was given to the report presented by the Deputy Monitoring Officer, detailing the progress with the handling of complaints relating to breaches of the Council’s Code of Conduct for Members and Town and Parish Councillors.  The report listed the current cases of complaint and the action being taken in respect of each one.

Reference was made to each related case and recommended outcomes/actions identified were highlighted.

Resolved:-  That the report be received and the contents noted.

To give consideration to a report regarding concerns raised pursuant to the Whistleblowing Policy and the actions taken to address these matters.

Consideration was given to the report and appendix presented by the Deputy Monitoring Officer, which provided an overview of the Whistleblowing cases which have been received over the past year.

Particular reference was made to the appendix to the report which set out clearly the description of the concerns received and action taken.

It was also suggested that in order for the Committee to be satisfied investigations had not stalled, that dates of action taken be included.

Resolved:-   That the Whistleblowing concerns raised over the previous year and the actions taken to address these matters be noted.

To determine any item which the Chair is of the opinion should be considered as a matter of urgency.

The Chair advised that there were no urgent items of business requiring the Committee’s consideration.

The next meeting of the Standards and Ethics Committee will take place on Thursday 16^th September, 2021, commencing at 2.00 p.m.

Resolved:-  That the next meeting of the Standards and Ethics Committee be held on Thursday, 16^th September, 2021, at Rotherham Town Hall commencing at 2.00 p.m.