Meeting documents

Standards Committee
Monday, 22nd September, 2008 7.30 pm

Date:
Monday, 22nd September, 2008
Time:
7.30pm
Place:
Front Committee Room, Town Hall, Reigate
 

Attendance Details

Present:
Councillor Mrs. J.S. Bray, (Chairman); Councillors Mrs. F.D.M. Dixon, S.A. Kulka and R.F.C. Wagner.

Mr. R. Bethell - Horley Town Council
Mrs. J.A. Cook - Salfords and Sidlow Parish Council

Mrs. J. Paul - Independent Member
(Vice-Chairman - in the Chair)
Min NoDescriptionResolution
Part I
11 MINUTES
Minute for Minute Number 11
RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting held on 30th June 2008 be approved as a correct record and signed.
12 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND SUBSTITUTIONS
 Committee Member: Mr. J. Broadbent (Chairman)

Non-Committee Members:
Councillor Mrs. R.S. Turner and Fiona Stimpson (Future Horley Town Council representative).
13 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
 None.
14 LOCAL GOVERNMENT OMBUDSMAN'S ANNUAL REPORT 2007/08

To receive the Local Government Ombudsman's Annual Report 2007/08 in respect of Reigate and Banstead Borough Council.

Minute for Minute Number 14
RESOLVED that the Local Government Ombudsman's annual report for 2007/08 be received.
15 APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT MEMBERS TO SERVE ON THE STANDARDS COMMITTEE
Minute for Minute Number 15
RESOLVED that the update be noted.
16 STANDARDS BOARD FOR ENGLAND (SBE) - ASSESSMENT CASE TOOL KIT

To consider an example case using the SBE's assessment tool kit. The tool kit is attached.

Minute for Minute Number 16
RESOLVED that the report be noted.
17 FUTURE MEETINGS
 RESOLVED to note that, currently, ordinary meetings of the Committee were scheduled for:

3rd November 2008
26th January 2009
9th March 2009
18 ANY OTHER URGENT BUSINESS
 None.
The meeting closed at 8.40 p.m.

Minute

Min NoMinute
11In relation to Minute 7 (Changes to the Handling of Complaints made under the Member Code of Conduct) it was noted that the Executive, in considering an identical report, had made some changes to the Recommendations and these had been adopted by Council. It was also noted that Fiona Stimpson had been nominated as an additional Horley Town Council representative to serve on the Standards Committee when it was reconstituted to reflect the new local standards framework.
14The Committee received the Local Government Ombudsman's annual report in respect of Reigate and Banstead Borough Council for the year ended 31st March 2008.
The report detailed the complaints against the Council received during 2007/08 by the Ombudsman (with a comparison with 2005/06 and 2006/07) and decisions on the complaints. Comments were also set out in respect of the Council's complaints procedure and handling of complaints, training in complaint handling, liaison with the Local Government Ombudsman (LGO) and LGO developments.
It was noted that the average response time to LGO enquiries had fallen to 19.3 days against the Ombudsman's requirement of 28 calendar days. The Council were now amongst the top performing authorities in relation to response time.
It was noted that the Council had a good working relationship with the Ombudsman and this should be fedback in response to the Annual Letter 2007/08.
15The Head of Legal and Property Services (and Monitoring Officer) updated the Committee on the appointment of independent members to serve on the Standards Committee.

Adverts for up to four independent members had been placed in the Borough News and a local newspaper. Details had also been sent to the Clerk to the Surrey Magistrates and neighbouring councils.

The number of applications received was reported and it was noted that the first step in recruitment progress would be to sieve these (at a special meeting of the Committee in October 2008) leading to interviews at the Committee on 3rd November 2008. Selection criteria would be prepared for the Committee to work against. The Committee in November might need to take place during the day dependent upon the number of applicants to be interviewed.

It was noted that provided the Committee was quorate not all Members need attend the meetings planned for October and November 2008. A quorum for the Committee was minimum of three members including one independent member. In due course Members would be contacted regarding the date for the special meeting in October 2008 and other proposed arrangements.

16The Head of Legal and Property Services (and Monitoring Officer) reported that the SBE had recently issued comprehensive guidance on the new Local Standards Framework and a summary on its contents was made at the meeting. Efforts were being made to obtain copies for each Member of the Committee.

An assessment tool kit formed part of the guidance and a copy of this was circulated with the Agenda. At the meeting case study papers (including SBE guidance) were tabled and the Committee considered two fictitious "complaints" and reached judgements on whether or not, in real life, they would have been referred for investigation. It was suggested that, periodically, this exercise should be repeated.