MINUTES
OF A MEETING OF THE STANDARDS COMMITTEE HELD AT COUNTY HALL, NEWPORT, ISLE OF
WIGHT ON TUESDAY, 11 OCTOBER 2005 COMMENCING AT 6.00 PM
Present :
Mr B Claxton (Chairman), Mr M J Cunningham, Mrs J
Harding, Mr G Hibberd, Mr R Mew, Mrs M J Miller, Mrs E Oulton
Apologies :
Miss H L Humby, Mr D Russell, Mr D Watson
Also
Present (non voting) :
Mr R G Mazillius
6.
MINUTES
RESOLVED :
THAT the minutes of the meeting held on 5 July 2005 be confirmed and signed by the
Chairman.
7.
DECLARATIONS OF
INTEREST
There were no declarations at this time.
8.
REPORTS OF THE
MONITORING OFFICER
(a)
Ethical Audit
Work had been undertaken over the past 18 months and
the Committee had considered and agreed a number of recommendations at each stage. The publication of the three phases of the
Ethical Audit was scheduled for mid October 2005. Following discussion it was
RESOLVED :
THAT at its November meeting Full Council be asked:
(i)
To note the publication
of the Ethical Audit report.
(ii)
To commit to continuing
to prioritise ethics and probity as the third element of the modernising
agenda.
(iii)
To commit to challenging
and supporting Town and Parish Councils – and to driving up good governance
standards including ethics and probity – in formal and informal partnerships;
and
(iv)
To amend the
constitution to add the ability of the Chairman of the Standards Committee to
report to full Council at his initiative on ethical/probity issues.
(b)
Ethics and Probity in
Parish/Town Councils
A questionnaire had been sent to all Town and Parish
Councils, 85 completed questionnaires were returned from 24 different Town and
Parish Councils. A number had observed
Personal Misconduct and Conflicts of Interest.
A vast majority were aware of the Ethical Framework although some of the
Councils believed they were being treated as third class.
Members were advised that a Toolkit was due to be
published at the Annual Standards Board Conference in September 2005. It was proposed that training be developed
for Town and Parish Councils in the future.
The parish Protocol was also being revised.
There was some discussion with reference to Town and
Parish Councils being offered training in certain areas but not attending. There were four quality Councils on the
Island at the moment which enabled them to attract more money from the
Government.
The Committee believed that they should each attend a
Town and Parish Council meeting so that all of them were visited.
RESOLVED :
(i)
THAT the Monitoring
Officer prepare with the Isle of Wight Association of Parish and Town Councils
and the Isle of Wight Society of Local Clerks a training package on Ethics and
Probity for all Town and Parish Councillors and Clerks. This is to utilise the expected national
toolkit. Details of the training
package to be reported back to the Committee in due course.
(ii)
THAT the work programme
from 7th October 2005 event with Town and Parish Councils be
reflected back to the Committee.
(iii)
THAT the support,
through the Monitoring Officer, to the Association of Parish and Town Councils
and the Isle of Wight Society of Local Clerks be revitalised.
(iv)
THAT the work to support
a specific Town Council be continues and the lessons reported at a later date.
(v)
THAT the Parish Protocol
be revised in the light of experience to date and the 7th October
2005 event with a view to it delivering a more meaningful level of engagement,
understanding and trust between the two tiers.
(vi)
THAT a rota be devised
for the Independent Standards Committee members to visit each Town and Parish
Council.
(c)
Report on the Standards
Board National Conference
The Chairman advised that a copy of the ‘Summary of
the Conference’ would be circulated to all members.
CHAIRMAN