|
BABERGH DISTRICT COUNCIL
STANDARDS COMMITTEE
MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE STANDARDS COMMITTEE HELD IN CRICKET MEADOW VIEW ROOM, COUNCIL OFFICES, CORKS LANE, HADLEIGH ON TUESDAY 14 MARCH 2006
|
PRESENT: |
Members |
Co-opted Members
|
|
|
Mrs S P Clarke
Mr N H J Irwin
Mr R E Kemp
Mr N A Ridley
|
Mrs J N Cole
Miss P F Cook
Mr J Newton
Mr B Riley |
51 DECLARATION OF INTERESTS
Mrs J N Cole and Miss P F Cook declared a prejudicial interest in Minute No. 52 as they had both applied to serve as co-opted members of the Standards Committee and withdrew from the meeting during consideration of the item.
52 MINUTES
Members’ attention was drawn to the Committee’s recommendation to Council in Minute No 43 – Appointment of Co-opted Members. The Acting Head of Legal and Administrative Services reported that on 23 February 2006 the Council approved the appointment of the two Independent Members of the Standards Committee and noted the appointment of the two Parish Council representatives. To regularise the position the Committee was asked to confirm the appointment of Mrs J M Cole and Miss P F Cook as the Parish Council representatives.
RESOLVED
(1) That the Minutes of the meeting held on 3 February 2006 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.
(2) That Mrs J M Cole and Miss P F Cook be appointed as Parish Council representatives on the Standards Committee for the 2 year period from 1 March 2006.
53 PETITIONS
None received.
54 QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS
None received.
55 ELECTION OF VICE-CHAIRMAN
Following the retirement of the former Vice-Chairman of the Standards Committee on 28 February 2006, Mr J B Newton was elected as Vice-Chairman until the first meeting following the Annual Meeting of the Council.
56 REFERRED COMPLAINT IN RESPECT OF BENTLEY PARISH COUNCIL
The Acting Head of Legal and Administrative Services introduced a report (Paper E298) relating to a complaint in respect of a Councillor of Bentley Parish Council that had been referred to the Council’s Monitoring Officer by the Standards Board for England, for local investigation and subsequent determination.
Members expressed concern at the length of time between the original complaint being made and it being brought before the Committee. It was agreed that, as it was indicated in the Government’s proposals for the review of the Members Code of Conduct that more complaints would be referred to Standards Committees in the future, it was important to ensure that Babergh’s Management Team was aware that resource and cost implications would need to be addressed to ensure that satisfactory timescales were met in future.
Members considered the investigation report and appendices and discussed in detail the points in paragraph 4.4 of Paper E298.
RESOLVED
That the Monitoring Officer’s finding that the Councillor has not failed to comply with the Code of Conduct of Bentley Parish Council be accepted and the Acting Head of Legal and Administrative Services inform those concerned of the Committee’s decision.
57 STANDARDS BOARD ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2006
The Chairman reported that the Standards Board Annual Conference for 2006, entitled ‘Bridging the Gap’ was to be held on 16 – 17 October 2006 at the ICC, Birmingham.
Members agreed that 2 places be booked for the Standards Board Annual Conference 2006 with attendees to be agreed at a later meeting.
The business of the meeting was concluded at 10.30 a.m.
Chairman
Back to Top
|