Agenda and minutes

An apology was received from Councillor Pritchard.

The minutes of the meeting held on 15January 2003 were signed by the Chair.

None.

None.

Chair Mrs. M. Roberts (Independent Member), Deputy- Chair Cllr. P. Flavell, Mr J. Romose (Independent Member), Mr. D. Hughes (Parish Council’s Representative), Cllrs Allen, B. Hoare, Lane and Pritchard.   

The Chair welcomed the new members of the Committee to their first meeting and introductions were made.

Copy extract from Constitution herewith

The Borough Solicitor submitted a report and elaborated thereon. He further commented that during the past year, had in addition to the comments made in the report, issued guidance to Councillors appointed to outside bodies, issued a Code of Conduct in relation to Planning Matters and undertaken the training of councillors and parish councillors in respect of Declarations of Interest.

Resolved: That the report be noted.

Revised Note herewith

The Borough Solicitor submitted a report and elaborated upon the difficulties in being able to interpret definitively Personal and Prejudicial Interests. He also referred to dispensations that the Committee could grant, the requirement to declare interests at meetings (in addition to the Register of Interests) and the need to declare any hospitality received of a value in excess of £25.

Resolved: That the report be noted. 

Note of Borough Solicitor (copy herewith)

The Borough Solicitor submitted a report and circulated recently received information on the Section 66 Regulations that would come into force on 30 June 2003. A further report would be made to the next meeting on procedures for dealing with any cases referred to the Council by the Standards Board. Additional Regulations were likely during the Autumn in respect of the investigation of cases referred by the Standards Board. Resources to undertake investigations could be an issue.

Resolved: That the report be noted.

Borough Solicitor to report

The Borough Solicitor reported that NALC were seeking a replacement as substitute parish councils member and had confirmed Mr D. Hughes as their representative.

Resolved: That the report be noted.

Chair to report

The Chair reported that she and the Borough Solicitor had attended the second annual Assembly of Standards Committees that had taken place in Birmingham the previous week. The Assembly covered Police and Fire Authorities as well as local authorities and parish councils. The theme of the Assembly had been “A Practical Approach” and the realities of applying the new Code of Conduct and building confidence in local democracy.

There had been a range of speakers and workshops the most notable being; experiences at Doncaster Borough Council, public perception of ethics in local government, the Government’s vision for local democracy and ethics, legal interpretation, mediation and reconciliation, predetermination and independent members and monitoring officers.

Resolved: That the report be noted.     

Report of Borough Solicitor (copy herewith)

The Borough Solicitor submitted a report and invited comments upon whether parish councillors should be invited to the same session as councillors. It was agreed that as attendance by parish councillors had been poor on the previous occasion that they be invited to attend the Training planned for 24 July 2003.

Resolved; That the training programme set out in the report for 24 July 2003 be agreed.  

“THAT THE PUBLIC BE EXCLUDED FROM THE REMAINDER OF THE MEETING ON THE GROUNDS THAT THERE IS LIKELY TO BE DISCLOSURE TO THEM OF SUCH CATEGORIES OF EXEMPT INFORMATION AS DEFINED BY SECTION 100(1) OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 1972 AS ARE LISTED AGAINST SUCH ITEM OR ITEMS OF BUSINESS BY REFERENCE TO THE APPROPRIATE PARAGRAPH OF SCHEDULE 12A TO SUCH ACT.”