Meeting documents

Standards Committee
Monday, 26th September, 2005 7.30 pm

Date:
Monday, 26th September, 2005
Time:
7.30 p.m.
Place:
Back Committee Room at the Town Hall, Reigate
 

Attendance Details

Present:
Councillors S.A. Kulka, J.H. Prevett and Mrs. R.S. Turner.

Mrs. J.A Cook - Salfords and Sidlow Parish Council
Dr. A.P. Kent - Horley Town Council

Mr. J. Broadbent - Independent Member
Mrs. J. Paul - Independent Member

(NOTE: It was reported that the Mayor had indicated that because of a prior engagement, she would not be able to attend the meeting for the purposes of item 1 - Election of Chairman).
Min NoDescriptionResolution
Part I
1. CONSENT FOR THE MAYOR TO TAKE THE CHAIR
 (NOTE: It was reported that the Mayor had indicated that because of a prior engagement, she would not be able to attend the meeting for the purposes of item 1 - Election of Chairman).
2 ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN
 RESOLVED that Mr. J. Broadbent be elected Chairman of the Committee for the Municipal Year 2005/06.

(Mr. J. Broadbent in the Chair)
3 ELECTION OF VICE-CHAIRMAN
 RESOLVED that Mrs J. Paul be elected Vice-Chairman of the Committee for the Municipal Year 2005/06.
4 MINUTES
 RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting held on 20th April, 2004 be approved as a correct record and signed.
5 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND SUBSTITUTIONS
 None.
6 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
 None.
7 CODE OF CONDUCT
Minute for Minute Number 7
RESOLVED that the report be noted.
8 MONITORING REPORT ON COMPLIANCE WITH THE CODE OF CONDUCT
Minute for Minute Number 8
RESOLVED that:
(i) the report be noted; and
(ii) the Monitoring Officer be asked to write to all Members urging them to attend one of the training sessions on the Code of Conduct scheduled for the current Municipal Year.
9 LOCAL GOVERNMENT OMBUDSMAN'S ANNUAL LETTER AND REPORT 2004/05
Minute for Minute Number 9
RESOLVED that the Annual Report be noted.
10 TRAINING: CONDUCT OF LOCAL HEARINGS
Minute for Minute Number 10
RESOLVED that the report be noted.
11 FUTURE MEETINGS
 RESOLVED to note that meetings of the Committee were currently scheduled for:

7th November, 2005
30th January, 2006
13th March, 2006
12 ANY OTHER URGENT BUSINESS
 None.
The meeting closed at 8.05 p.m.

Minute

Min NoMinute
7The Committee received a report updating members on the consultation by the Standards Board for England on a review of the current Code of Conduct.
The report set out background information, the key areas for review and the next steps in the consultation process. In relation to the next steps, it was reported at the meeting that the Board had now formulated conclusions from the review and these had been submitted to Government for consideration alongside recommendations of the Graham Committee on Standards in Public Life and a Parliamentary Select Committee on the Role and Effectiveness of the Standards Board for England.
A paper detailing the Board's conclusions would be circulated to all Members of the Committee for information. Among a range of conclusions, the Board were proposing that the Code should be made clearer, simpler and more positive. It was considered that there should be greater support for the Councillor's role as an advocate for their community and a reduction in the number of personal interests that had to be declared.
The Board had also concluded that there should be greater local discretion to grant dispensations and that the current rules were over prescriptive. No change was proposed to the arrangements relating to the register of interests but it was being recommended that a specific provision on bullying should be introduced.
The Board felt that Councillors should be able to disclose information in the public interest and disrepute should be limited to unlawful activities. It was being recommended that the duty to report breaches should be abolished.
8The Committee received a monitoring report on compliance with the Member Code of Conduct.

The report set out background information and indicated that all Councillors had signed up to the Code of Conduct. The requirement to declare registrable interests had been complied with and Councillors were reminded annually of the need to ensure that their registration was up to date. All Members had also complied with requirements on Related Party Transactions under the Code of Practice on Local Authority Accountability.

Since the adoption of the Code, regular training had been provided for Members of Reigate and Banstead Borough Council. Training had also been provided for members of the Town and Parish Councils and was available on request. The Monitoring Officer had attended two sessions at Horley Town Council over the past 18 months at the request of the Town Clerk. So far as the Borough Council was concerned, records indicated that a number of Members had not attended a training session on the code.

Officers monitored the declaration of interests at meetings of the Council and its Committees and, as far as could be ascertained, considered that Members were making appropriate declarations. Many Members particularly in relation to planning matters routinely sought advice from the Monitoring Officer. Some of the matters were complex and as the Standards Board considered more cases, clearer indications and boundaries would become available. This would be an area for close monitoring and would be the subject of further training in the future. Members appeared to be complying with requirements on gifts and hospitality.

It was noted that reference was made on the Borough Council's web site to the availability of the Register of Interests for public inspection.

The report also set out a summary of local Borough and Town Council complaints to the Standards Board for the last two years. In each case, it had been decided that no action needed to be taken.

In response to an enquiry, the position on membership of the Freemasons and the need to register and declare interests was briefly outlined.

It was proposed that the monitoring report should be submitted to the Committee annually and this approach was endorsed by Members.

9The Committee received the Local Government Ombudsman's Annual Report 2004/05 in respect of Reigate and Banstead Borough Council. The Committee's attention was drawn to the level of complaints received and services involved; decisions on complaints and, in particular two local settlements, the Council's complaints procedure and handling of complaints; and liaison with the Ombudsman's office. An offer of training on complaints handling was to be taken up.

10It was reported that arrangements were in hand to provide Members, Officers and the Clerks to the Parish Councils with training on the Conduct of Local Hearings. A trainer had been identified and Members would be canvassed on a suitable date on which the training could take place. At this stage an event early in the New Year was envisaged.