Agenda and minutes

The Chair, Mrs Sue Toland, welcomed everyone to the meeting.

The clerk drew attention to the emergency evacuation procedure.

Apologies had been received from Parish Councillors Tony Marwood, Veronica Packham, Axel Palmer and Nick Stevens.

At this point in the meeting declarations of interest are received from Members in any of the agenda items under consideration at the meeting. Members are asked to indicate:

(a) The agenda item number in which they have an interest to declare.

(b) The nature of their interest.

(c) Whether their interest is a disclosable pecuniary interest or an other interest,  (as defined in Part 2, A and B of the Code of Conduct and Rules for Registration of Interests)

Any Member who needs to clarify any matters relating to the declaration of interests is recommended to seek advice from the Council’s Monitoring Officer before the meeting to expedite dealing with the item during the meeting.

There were none.

There was none.

Mr Ian Barclay (a member of the public) asked the following question;

“In July 2012, the council approved "The Code of conduct for members and co-opted members together with the rules for registration of interests and conflicts of interest.

What guidance is given to elected members when they are appointed to the Cabinet and how they should reconcile their two roles and any conflicts of interest that this may raise, particularly when dealing with ward issues such as with local groups and constituents?”

The Monitoring Officer said that guidance was given to Cabinet Members on an ad hoc basis and that they were encouraged to seek advice. Following a request from Mr Barclay, the Chair agreed to provide a written reply to his question.  

The Chair asked whether there had been any progress on the appointment of the Independent Person and was informed that it was hoped to appoint someone in the New Year.

To approve the minutes of the meeting of 20^th September 2012 as a correct record.

The minutes of the meeting on 20^th September 2012 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To agree a procedure for hearings of complaints against Councillors.

The Monitoring Officer introduced this report which sets out the procedure to be followed for Local Hearings of complaints against Councillors.

Councillor Reg Williams asked whether this procedure was applicable to Parish and Town Councils. The Monitoring Officer confirmed that it was. Councillor Tony Crouch asked whether the same rules applied regarding non-pecuniary interests as they did before and was informed that it was not necessarily the same system as Parish and Town Councils may have chosen to adopt slightly different codes from the one which applied to B&NES councillors. However, the Standards Committee’s role remained the same.

Councillor Nigel Roberts thanked the Monitoring Officer for his clear and concise report.

The Committee is asked to determine the complaint.

Before commencing this item, it was noted that several Members had not received the papers for the case in question before the meeting. On a motion proposed by Councillor Bevan, seconded by Councillor Lees, and agreed by the majority of those present, it was decided that in order to ensure a fair hearing, consideration of this complaint would be postponed until January 2013.

The Chair closed the meeting by wishing all present a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.