PAPER B

 

Purpose: For Decision

 

Committee:

STANDARDS COMMITTEE

 

 

Date:

11 JUNE 2002

 

 

Title:

ADOPTION OF CODES OF CONDUCT

 

 

 

REPORT OF THE MONITORING OFFICER

 

 

 


SUMMARY/PURPOSE

 

To update the Committee on the level of attendance of Members at the various training events and the implementation of the Codes of Conduct.

 

BACKGROUND

 

Training

 

Under the Local Government Act 2000 this Committee has a responsibility to assist in the implementation and training of the new Codes of Conduct.  The details of this was agreed at the last meeting of the Committee and included the following:

 

  1. A day long training session held for all Members of the Isle of Wight Council;

 

  1. Four training sessions held across the Island for all Parish and Town Councillors and Clerks;

 

  1. An implementation pack prepared by the Monitoring Officer and issued to the Clerks of all Parish and Town Councils; and

 

  1. A training session for all co-opted members of the Isle of Wight Council (4 in total).

 

Whilst all Isle of Wight Council Members were encouraged to attend the all day training event, due to various diary commitments it was difficult for all members to attend.  For those members who were unable to attend this session they were encouraged to attend either one of the sessions set up for the Parish and Town Councils or the session for the Co-opted members.

 

Details of those who attended these sessions were kept and the following statistics may be of interest:

 

78% of the Isle of Wight Councillors attended one or other of the various training sessions;

68% of the Parish and Town Councillors attended one or other of the various training sessions;

All but three Parish and Town Council Clerks attended a training session (all of these three had already given notice of their attention to resign as Clerk (for differing reasons) before the training sessions had been arranged).

 

Finally on the issue of training I would like to record my thanks to those members of the Standards Committee who attended various sessions. I would also like to thank John Whitney (one of the Clerks) and Roger Craven (from the Association of Parish and Town Councils) who helped me in the organisation of the various training sessions.

 

The Committee are asked to consider if any additional training is required.  I would suggest that given the relatively high attendance figures that further training sessions need only be arranged where there is a specific request from a number of Parish and Town Councils or Councillors.

 

Adoption of the Codes of Conduct

 

All Councils on the Isle of Wight have now adopted the model Codes of Conduct and at the time of writing all the Isle of Wight Councillors (and co-opted members) have completed their Registers of Interests as have 21 out of 27 Parish and Town Councils.

 

Most members have also signed their written undertaking to be bound by the Code.

 

There have been a number of resignations from the Parish and Town Councils since the adoption of the Code of Conduct.

 

RECOMMENDATION

 

That the report be noted and that further training sessions be arranged where a specific request is received.

 

BACKGROUND PAPERS

 

Statistics from the training sessions

 

 

 

Contact Point: Chris Mathews, F 823280

 

 

 

 

MIKE FISHER

Monitoring Officer