Minutes:
The Chairman of the Standards Committee presented the report of the meeting of the Committee held on 25 January 2017.
(1) Standards regime – Peer Review - Code of Conduct (Minute 29, 1, (a – b))
The Chairman of the Standards Committee MOVED, seconded by Councillor C R Slade:
THAT the recommendation of the Standards Committee as set out in Minute 29, 1 (a-b), be ADOPTED.
Upon a Vote being taken, the MOTION was declared to have been CARRIED.
(2) Standards Regime – Peer Review - Disclosable Pecuniary Interest (Minute 29, 2, (a-c))
The Chairman of the Standards Committee MOVED, seconded by Councillor Mrs M E Squires:
THAT the recommendation of the Standards Committee as set out in Minute 29, 2 (a-c), be ADOPTED.
Upon a Vote being taken, the MOTION was declared to have been CARRIED.
(3) Standards Regime – Peer Review – Arrangements for Dealing with Misconduct Complaints (Minute 29, 3, (a-g))
The Chairman of the Standards Committee MOVED, seconded by Councillor Mrs C A Collis:
THAT the recommendation of the Standards Committee as set out in Minute 29, 3 (a-g), be ADOPTED.
Upon a Vote being taken, the MOTION was declared to have been CARRIED.
(4) Standards Regime – Peer Review – Sanctions (Minute 29, 4, (a-b))
The Chairman of the Standards Committee MOVED, seconded by Councillor B A Moore:
THAT the recommendation of the Standards Committee as set out in Minute 29, 4 (a-b), be ADOPTED.
Upon a Vote being taken, the MOTION was declared to have been CARRIED.
(5) Standards Regime – Peer Review - Appeals Against Decision (Minute 29, 5)
The Chairman of the Standards Committee MOVED, seconded by Councillor Mrs C A Collis:
THAT the recommendation of the Standards Committee as set out in Minute 29, 5 be ADOPTED.
Councillor Mrs R Roach MOVED an AMENDMENT, seconded by Councillor Mrs N Woollatt that the recommendation be deleted and replaced with the following:
‘That consideration is given to this Council having an appeals process.’
Following debate and upon a vote being taken the AMENDMENT was declared to have FAILED.
Following debate and upon a vote being taken the MOTION was declared to have been CARRIED.
Notes: (i) Councillor R L Stanley requested that his abstention from voting
with regard to the amendment be recorded.
(ii) Councillor Mrs J Roach requested that her vote against the final decision be recorded.
(iii) Councillors R Evans, Mrs G Doe, F W Letch and Mrs N Woollatt requested that their abstentions from voting with regard to the final decision be recorded.
(6) Standards Regime – Peer Review – Independent Persons (Minute 29, 6 (a – e))
The Chairman of the Standards Committee MOVED, seconded by Councillor Mrs C A Collis:
THAT the recommendation of the Standards Committee as set out in Minute 29, 6 (a - e), be ADOPTED.
Upon a Vote being taken, the MOTION was declared to have been CARRIED.
(7) Standards Regime – Peer Review – The Register of Councillors Interests (minute 29, 7 (a – e))
The Chairman of the Standards Committee MOVED, seconded by Councillor R J Dolley:
THAT the recommendation of the Standards Committee as set out in Minute 29, 7 (a-e), be ADOPTED.
Upon a Vote being taken, the MOTION was declared to have been CARRIED.
(8) Standards Regime – Peer Review – Procedure when Disclosable Pecuniary Interests Arise (Minute 29, 8)
The Chairman of the Standards Committee MOVED, seconded by Councillor C R Slade:
THAT the recommendation of the Standards Committee as set out in Minute 29, 8 be ADOPTED.
Upon a Vote being taken, the MOTION was declared to have been CARRIED.
(9) Standards Regime – Peer Review – Dispensations (Minute 29, 9 (a – b))
The Chairman of the Standards Committee MOVED, seconded by Councillor Mrs E J Slade:
THAT the recommendation of the Standards Committee as set out in Minute 29, 9 (a - b), be ADOPTED.
Upon a Vote being taken, the MOTION was declared to have been CARRIED.
(10) Standards Regime – Peer Review – Bias and Predetermination (Minute 29, 10 (a-b))
The Chairman of the Standards Committee MOVED, seconded by Councillor Mrs M E Squires:
THAT the recommendation of the Standards Committee as set out in Minute 29, 10 (a – b) be ADOPTED.
Councillor Mrs R Roach MOVED an AMENDMENT, seconded by Councillor Mrs N Woollatt that recommendation (a) be amended and replaced with the following:
(a) Guidance and training for Members be reviewed to consider including the following topics, bias, predetermination and conformity.
Following debate and upon a vote being taken the AMENDMENT was declared to have FAILED.
Upon a vote being taken the MOTION was declared to have been CARRIED.
(11) Standards Regime – Peer Review – Other Matters Arising as a result of the Review (Minute 29, 11 (a – i))
The Chairman of the Standards Committee MOVED, seconded by Councillor C R Slade:
THAT the recommendation of the Standards Committee as set out in Minute 29, 11 (a - i), be ADOPTED.
Upon a Vote being taken, the MOTION was declared to have been CARRIED.
The Council had before it questions * submitted by Councillor Mrs J Roach in accordance with Procedure Rule 13.2 with regard to Minute 29, together with responses from the Director of Corporate Affairs and Business Transformation.
Councillor Mrs J Roach asked a supplementary question in accordance with Procedure Rule 13.10 stating that where action had been taken previously regarding two councillors, had this been taken illegally and if the jurisdiction test had been applied would the two councillors have been taken to task?
The Chief Executive responded by stating that the complaints would have been received in the first place but had the jurisdiction test been applied no further action would have been taken.
Note: * Questions and responses previously circulated; copy attached to the signed minutes.