Meeting documents

Standards Committee
Monday, 12th March, 2007 7.30 pm

Date:
Monday, 12th March, 2007
Time:
7.30 p.m.
Place:
Front Committee Room at the Town Hall, Reigate
 

Attendance Details

Present:
Councillors Mrs. J.S. Bray, Mrs. F.D.M. Dixon and S.A. Kulka.

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

Mrs. J. Paul - Independent Member
Mr. J. Broadbent - Independent Member (Chairman)
Also Present:
Councillor M. A. Brunt*

* Part meeting.
Substitutes:
None
Min NoDescriptionResolution
Part I
19 MINUTES
 RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting held on 6th November 2006 be approved as a correct record and signed.
20 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND SUBSTITUTIONS
 Apology for Absence Councillor R.S. Mantle

Substitute Member
-
21 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
 None.
22 CONSULTATION ON THE PROPOSED NEW CODE OF CONDUCT FOR LOCAL AUTHORITY MEMBERS
Minute for Minute Number 22
RESOLVED that:

(i) the responses to the Department for Communities and Local Government set out in Appendix 4 to the circulated report be approved subject to incorporation of the suggestions set out above relating to compulsory training and retention of the "whistle blowing" provision; and

(ii) the proposed timetable for adoption of the new Code of Conduct as set out in paragraph 15 of the circulated report be approved.
23 MONEY LAUNDERING
Minute for Minute Number 23
RESOLVED that:

(i) the Anti-Money Laundering policy set out at Annex 1 to the circulated report be approved; and

(ii) the Executive be recommended to designate the Director of Resources as the Council's Money Laundering Officer and authorise the Head of Legal and Property Services to amend the Officer Scheme of Delegation in Part 3 of the Constitution as set out in paragraph 9 of the circulated report.
24 ANY OTHER URGENT BUSINESS
 There was no urgent business requiring decision by the Committee but the Head of Legal and Property Services (and Monitoring Officer) took the opportunity (under Minute 25 below) to update Members on a current investigation into an alleged breach of the Code of Conduct by a Member.
25 ALLEGED BREACH OF THE CODE OF CONDUCT BY A MEMBER
 The Head of Legal and Property Services (and Monitoring Officer) reported that an investigation into an alleged breach of the Code of Conduct by a Member was nearing completion. The final report on the investigation (by investigators commissioned by the Council) was expected shortly.

The report would need to be considered by the Standards Committee to determine whether a hearing into the allegation was appropriate. A meeting of the Committee would accordingly be arranged in consultation with the Chairman and, in this respect, Members were asked to notify the Council's Democratic Services of any dates that were inconvenient.
The meeting closed at 8.28 p.m.

Minute

Min NoMinute
22The Committee received a comprehensive report which sought approval to the submission of comments to the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) in response to the above consultation.

The report set out background information, relevant statutory powers, factors for consideration (proposed amendments to the current Code and timing issues - adoption and training), options open to the Committee, resource and legal implications, local consultation undertaken and policy framework considerations.
The report concluded that the proposed amendments to the Code had been long awaited. They addressed concerns regarding interpretation of the Code. Proposed changes to the overall operation of the Standards investigation and hearings process were being addressed through primary legislation and a further report would be presented to the Committee in due course.
The revised Code also sought to add clarity of definition and purpose and the changes were broadly supported. Appended to the report was a commentary on the proposed revisions to the Code (published by the DCLG), a schedule of general provisions, the existing Code of Conduct and detailed comments recommended to be sent in response to the consultation.
The Head of Legal and Property Services (and Monitoring Officer) introduced the report, explained the main changes proposed to the Code and answered a number of questions by Members. In relation to local consultation, details of responses were reported at the meeting.
In terms of timing, a proposed programme leading to adoption of any new Code of Conduct by the Council from 1st September 2007 was set out. This programme would allow for required Member training. It was suggested that consideration should be given to making it a requirement for all new Members to undertake training on ethics and probity. On revision of the Code, it was also suggested that the "whistle blowing" provision should be retained.
23The Committee received a report which sought approval to the Council's Anti-Money Laundering policy which would form part of the Authority's financial governance.

The report set out background information, relevant statutory powers, factors for consideration and resource and legal implications. Appended to the report was a draft Anti-Money Laundering policy.