Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

The Democratic Services Officer read out the procedure.

Apologies were received from Dr Cyril Davies, Veronica Packham and Deborah Russell.

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.

Cllr Sarah Bevan declared a non-pecuniary interest as a Trustee of the River Avon Trust.

Cllr Eleanor Jackson declared a non-pecuniary interest because she had dealings with the subject Councillor in her former role as Chair of the Housing and Major Projects Task and Finish Group.

Cllr Malcolm Lees declared a non-pecuniary interest in that he had arranged an insurance policy for the subject councillor’s company.

There was none.

There were none.

There were none.

The minutes of the meeting of 13^th December 2012 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

The public and exempt minutes of the meeting of the 27^th February 2013 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Before discussing the matters contained in Appendices 3 and 4 of this report, the Committee is invited to pass the following resolution:

Having been satisfied that the public interest would be better served by not disclosing relevant information, the Committee resolves, in accordance with the provisions of section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, that the public be excluded from the meeting for this item of business because of the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1 and 2 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act as amended.

The Chair reminded Members that this was a fresh hearing of this complaint and that the proceedings would be based on the report prepared by the Investigating Officer.

RESOLVED  that the Committee having been satisfied that the public interest would be better served by not disclosing relevant information, in accordance with the provisions of section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, that the public, with the exception of the wife and partner of the parties, be excluded from the meeting for this item of business because of the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1 and 2 of Schedule 12A of the Act as amended.

The Investigating Officer presented his report and answered questions put by Members and the parties. The parties made statements.

Following an adjournment the Committee RESOLVED as follows:

“The Standards Committee has carefully considered the Investigating Officer’s report, the later submissions and the verbal submissions by the complainant and the subject Councillor.

“The Committee recognises the strong feelings on both sides and has concluded that the subject Councillor has failed to show respect to the complainant, but that this does not amount to bullying. It has concluded that the other elements of the complaint are unfounded.

“It has decided that the subject Councillor should be rebuked for showing a lack of respect to the complainant; should apologise to the complainant in terms to be agreed with the Monitoring Officer; and the Committee suggests that the subject Councillor undertakes training in this aspect of the Code of Conduct.

“The Committee recommends that the Council considers training on “netiquette” for its Members.”