Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting and informed members that the new Independent Person Tony Drew was in attendance.  Members introduced themselves to the Independent Person.

The Democratic Services Officer read out the emergency evacuation procedure as set out on the agenda.

Apologies had been received from Councillor Geoff Ward, Deborah Russell, Tony Crouch and Dr Axel Palmer.

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 Officeror a member of his staff before the meeting to expedite dealing with the item during the meeting.

There were none.

There was none.

There were none.

There were none.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting on 22^nd September 2016 be confirmed as a correct record and be signed by the Chair(person).

The Monitoring Officer, Maria Lucas presented the report.  She explained that all the complaints, bar one, had been completed.  With regard to a recent complaint though it had not been written on the proper form it was deemed to be serious enough to warrant further investigation.

In respect of Chew Stoke Parish Council where there had been several complaints raised, Deborah White of ALCA (Avon Local Councils Association) was working with the Clerk and Councillors on their working practices and proper procedures.

The Monitoring Officer informed the meeting that a request for assistance with Standards cases had been received from Bristol City Council as their Independent Person had died.  Tony Drew had been able to assist them.

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

The Monitoring Officer explained that she was looking at improving the arrangements for complaints and would be producing a flow chart of the process.  She would bring this to Committee in due course.

She also added an item to the May agenda, on whether Councillors can stay in a meeting if they have a pecuniary interest.

For the September meeting she would be undertaking a hearings workshop so that Members would be prepared in readiness for a hearing.

In response to the Chair’s question about the Annual Report to Council, the Monitoring Officer reported that the Council Leader had thanked the Standards Committee for their work and there were no issues raised.

With regard to the meeting on 25^th January 2018, Veronica Packham explained that there was a clash with the ALCA meeting on the same date.  The Democratic Services Officer would be contacting Members to agree a suitable date.

RESOLVED to note the workplan.

Several scenarios raising different standards issues were considered by the Standards Committee and then possible answers discussed.

The scenarios with answers are attached to the minutes.

RESOLVED to note the information in the training session.