Meeting documents

Standards Committee
Wednesday, 17th March, 2010 7.30 pm

Date:
Wednesday, 17th March, 2010
Time:
7.30 pm
Place:
New Council Chamber, Town Hall, Reigate
 

Attendance Details

Present:
Councillors Mrs. F.D.M. Dixon, S.A. Kulka, R.C. Newstead and Mrs. R.S. Turner.

Mr. R. Bethell - Horley Town Council

Independent Members

Mr. J. Broadbent (Chairman)
Mr. P. Allen
Mrs. A. Armstrong
Mrs. H. Burr
Dr. C. Vaughan

Min NoDescriptionResolution
Part I
29 MINUTES
RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting held on 11th November 2009 be approved as a correct record and signed.
30 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND SUBSTITUTIONS
Apologies for Absence

Mrs. J.A. Cook (Salfords and Sidlow Parish Council)

Mrs. F. Stimpson (Horley Town Council)
31 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
None.
32 NEW MEMBER INDUCTION AND MEMBER DEVELOPMENT 2009/10 AND 2010/11
RESOLVED to note the new arrangements for new Member induction and Member development for 2010/11 as set out in the report.
33 NEW MEMBER CODE OF CONDUCT - UPDATE
RESOLVED that the position be noted.
34 COUNCIL CONSTITUTION REVIEW - UPDATE
RESOLVED that the report be noted.
35 WORK PROGRAMME 2010/11
RESOLVED that the work programme be noted and related issues, as referred to above, be progressed by the officers.
36 ANY OTHER URGENT BUSINESS
None.
37 EXEMPT BUSINESS
RESOLVED that members of the Press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 on the grounds that:

(i) it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act; and

(ii) the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information.
Part II(Confidential)
38 COMPLAINT AGAINST A BOROUGH COUNCILLOR ALLEGING A BREACH OF THE MEMBER CODE OF CONDUCT
RESOLVED that the report be noted.
The meeting closed at 8.27 p.m.

Minute

Min NoMinute
32The Committee received a report on New Member Induction and Member Development 2009/10 and 2010/11.

The report set out relevant statutory powers, details of (and rationale for) the Member induction activities during 2009/10, information on a requirement under the Local Government, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 to promote involvement with local democracy and proposed arrangements for New Member Induction and a Member Development Programme for 2010/11. Related corporate plan priorities were set out, together with details of consultation undertaken, legal, financial and equalities implications.

At the meeting supplementary information was tabled - this indicated that the Surrey Improvement Partnership Member Development Programme was being developed and details of events currently on offer to all Surrey Members were reported.

The report indicated that the current arrangements for new Member induction and Member development had been reviewed in the light of new obligations on the Council to promote understanding of how to become a councillor, what councillors did and what support was available to Councillors.
In summary proposals were as follows:

Pre-Borough Elections

• Improved web page on "Becoming a Councillor"
• New web page on "Being a Councillor"
• Guide on "Being a Councillor"
• Prospective candidate "open" event at the Town Hall

New Member Induction

• Electronic provision of a new Members Handbook
• Mentoring service by Democratic Services
• Access to dedicated Members intranet
• Induction event incorporating a "freshers fair"
• Probity and ethics (Code of Conduct) training - open to all Members

Member Development

• Training on the regulatory services
• Individual attendance by Members at external seminars/conferences
• Participation in SIP Member Development Programme
• Remainder of programme to be determined

In relation to the remainder of the Member development programme, Members noted that the intention was to seek the views of Group Leaders on Members requirements. At the suggestion of a Member, it was agreed that Group Leader's views should also be sought on potential improvements to Member services generally, for example on the provision of electronic diaries.
33The Committee was informed that, despite indications to the contrary, the new Member Code of Conduct was not now expected until after the Parliamentary General Election.
34The Committee was informed that under the Local Government, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 the Council was required to move to new executive arrangements by May 2011 - either a "strong" Leader and cabinet or a directly elected Mayor and cabinet.

The two options had recently been the subject of public consultation and a report on the outcome was being submitted to a meeting of the Executive on 25th March 2010. Whatever was the preferred option, a fundamental review of the Council's constitution would be necessary.

Officers had already commenced preliminary work and from time to time the Committee would be apprised of progress.
35The Committee considered its work programme for 2009/10 and 2010/11.

Under this item, the Committee received a report on the attendance of two of its independent Members (Dr. C. Vaughan and Mr. P. Allen) at a recent meeting of the Association of Independent Members. Attendance had been very worthwhile, with issues considered including case studies and examples of good practice.

The Vice-Chairman undertook to circulate a good practice report to the other independent Members. The Association met twice a year and the next meeting was scheduled for October 2010. In relation to the next meeting after that (February/March 2011), it was agreed that Reigate and Banstead should offer to host the event.

The Head of Legal and Property Services (and Monitoring Officer) also reported on a proposal for Surrey authorities to enter into a reciprocal Agreement whereby independent Members would be able to assist other authorities. A report on this possibility would be submitted to the next meeting of the Committee.
38The Committee received and discussed a report on decisions of a Standards Assessment Sub-Committee and Standards Review Sub-Committee relating to a complaint against a Borough Councillor alleging a breach of the Member Code of Conduct.

The report set out relevant statutory powers, background and the next steps, namely the appointment of an independent external investigator to consider the allegation, interview all relevant witnesses and produce a report for consideration of the Standards Committee.

Timescales were reported and, in this connection, it was noted that it might be necessary to convene a special meeting of the Committee.