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.

Under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for Agenda Items 5 and 6 (Consideration of Whistleblowing Policy and Complaints) on the grounds that their appendices involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

Resolved:-  That, under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for (Minute Nos. 26 and 27 (Whistleblowing and Complaints) on the grounds that the appendices to those reports involves 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 January, 2025 as a true and correct record of the proceedings and signed by the Chair.

Consideration was given to the minutes of the previous meeting held on 16^th January, 2025.

Reference was made to Minute No. 21 (Consultation on Strengthening the Standards and Conduct Framework for Local Authorities in England) where it was confirmed the responses to the questions were forwarded onto Government on behalf of the Committee.

Resolved:-   That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 16^th January, 2025 were approved as a true and correct record of the proceedings and signed by the Chair.

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 Service Manager, which provided an overview of the Whistleblowing cases which have been received over the past year.

Particular reference was made to the confidential 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 Service Manager, 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 confidential appendix to 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 consider and approve the draft work programme for the Standards and Ethics Committee for the period January to November, 2025.

Consideration was given to the report presented by the Service Manager which set out the draft Work Plan for the Standards and Ethics Committee for the period January to November, 2025.

The Committee was, therefore, requested to suggest any amendments, make further proposals for consideration and thereafter adopt a final version.

Proposals were in hand for a dedicated training session for all Members of the Committee.  This training session had not been included on the Work Plan.

In agreeing the contents the Committee was advised that the Annual Report had been mistakenly included for March, but in fact would be included for June, 2025.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the draft Work Plan be received and the contents noted.

(2)  That, subject to the Annual Report being included for June, 2025 the final Work Plan for the period January to November, 2025 be approved.

To review the current membership and make recommendations to refresh the membership of the Standards and Ethics Committee.

Consideration was given to the report presented by the Service Manager which detailed a proposed review of the current membership of the Standards and Ethics Committee and how this could be refreshed.

The report set out in detail the establishment of the current membership and composition following the implementation of the Localism Act 2011.

It was noted the current Parish Council Members were appointed in June 2021 for a period of four years.  The mechanism for selecting the three nominees would be a matter for the Town and Parish Councils through the Yorkshire Local Councils Association.

In respect of the two vacant Independent Members of the Committee, it was appropriate to advertise to try to fill these vacancies and renew this type of membership of the Committee.

Subject to the Committee’s consent a report on proposed appointments to the Parish and Town Council Members and Independent Members should be submitted to the June meeting for approval.

Resolved:-  (1)  That arrangements for the nomination of Parish Council Members from the Parish and Town Councils in the Borough be approved.

(2)  That the two vacant Independent Member roles on the Committee be advertised and recruited to.

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.

However, a training video was shown at the end of the meeting from Geldards Public Sector on Member Conduct.  A copy of the slides would be circulated to all attendees and, if required, the video could again be made available prior to the commencing of the next meeting in June, 2025.