Agenda and draft minutes

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

Councillor Griffin declared a personal interest in Minute No. 23 (Complaints) on the grounds of having knowledge of one of the cases listed.

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

Agenda Items 5 and 6 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. 22 and 23 – Review of Concerns Pursuant to the Whistleblowing and Consideration of Complains) 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 16^th September, 2021 as a true and correct record of the proceedings.

Resolved:-  That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 16^th September, 2021 were approved as a true and correct record of the proceedings.

The Chair had highlighted at the Council meeting that Parish Councillor Buckley and Parish Councillor Carroll’s terms of office (Minute No. 12) would not be confirmed until the 29^th September, 2021 and indicated they had left the meeting before confidential items were considered.

The Committee was updated in terms of Minute No. 13 (LGA Model Code of Conduct) which had been circulated to all Parish Council Clerks, referenced in the Members’ Bulletin and had confirmation from the LGA that training would be delivered in due course.

The Chair had also liaised with the Deputy Leader, whose portfolio covered Parish and Town Councils, following some instances of potential Code of Conduct breaches.

The Committee was also advised that in terms of Minute No. 14 (Training) plans may be delayed during the pre-election period and it could be the New Year before the scheduled training was delivered.

The Chair also urged inclusion of a key of acronyms for future reports as per Minute No. 15 (Concerns Pursuant to the Whistleblowing Policy).

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.

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

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.

The Chair asked that actions/referrals on the schedule of complaints be dated accordingly.

Resolved:-  That the report be received and the contents 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, 20^th January, 2022, commencing at 2.00 p.m.

Resolved:-  That the next meeting of the Standards and Ethics Committee be held on Thursday, 20^th January, 2022 at the Town Hall, commencing at 2.00 p.m.