Standards Committee Minutes

35. MINUTES

RESOLVED:

THAT, the Minutes of the meeting held on 19 October 2004 confirmed and signed by the Chairman.

36. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

There were no declarations of interest at this stage.

37. ETHICAL AUDIT

The Committee was informed that work is ongoing for the final report on ethical audit. The Committee were asked to agree the objectives and methods to be used in a review of ethics and probity in the Town and Parish Council context. These were set out in a report from the Head of Legal and Democratic Services. The report contained a draft questionnaire which members of the Committee were asked to consider as a means of receiving feedback on the subject of ethics and probity in the town and parish council context.

The Committee welcomed the suggestion but considered that the questionnaire needed to be sent to all Parish and Town Councillors and Clerks and this should be undertaken with sufficient time to enable the next meeting of the Committee to consider the responses. From the responses the Committee hoped to be able to identify any particular patterns and from that to identify with which Parish and Town Councils further detailed work might be required – this work to be undertaken later in the summer after the elections.

On a general point Independent Members of the Committee were encouraged to attend meetings of Town and Parish Councils so as to become familiar with their working methods.

RESOLVED:

THAT, the questionnaire, in its existing form, be circulated to all Parish and Town Councillors and that the responses be considered at the next meeting of the Committee.

38. REVIEW OF TERMS OF REFERENCE

The Committee was asked to review the terms of reference following the report of the Head of Legal and Democratic Services. The Committee suggested that their terms of reference be extended to include the ability to commission their own work and the requirement to submit an annual report.

RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL:

THAT, the following additions be made to the Standards Committee Terms of Reference:

“8. To enquire of its own motion into any matter touching or concerning the ethics and standards of the Council.

9. To submit an annual report on the Committee’s activities over the last year, to the Council.”

39. Review of Induction Programme for the May 2005 Elections

The Committee considered a report from the Monitoring Officer on the proposed induction programme for the May 2005 elections and to consider any further issues that might need to be covered.

The Committee supported the proposal induction programme and emphasised the need for the Codes of Conduct to be included in the nomination pack. The suggestion of some form of short training session prior to the elections was also supported and it was suggested that there probably needed to be one for those standing for the Isle of Wight Council and one for those standing for Town and Parish Council. Once these had been arranged details would be forwarded to all members of the Committee who would attend where possible.

Details of the post election training programme would be considered at the next meeting of the Committee.

RESOLVED:

THAT the induction programme, with the comments set out above, be supported and that at its next meeting the Committee consider the post election induction programme.

40. APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT MEMBERS

The Committee noted that there were currently 2 vacancies for Independent Members and that the term of office for all the existing Independent Members (who were eligible for re-appointment) expired on 5 May 2005. The recruitment process for the new members was noted. It was suggested that various organisations be sent details of the vacancies when these were advertised and all Committee members asked to consider drawing the forthcoming advertisement to anyone who maybe interested.

RESOLVED:

THAT when ready details of the vacancies and the appointment process for Independent Members of the Committee be sent to the Unions, Chamber of Commerce, Sports Clubs, NHS organisations and Prisons and that all current members of the Committee be encouraged to draw the attention of any likely candidates to the process.

41. ANNUAL REPORT

The Committee considered the draft Annual Report of the Standards Committee.

RESOLVED:

THAT, subject to the names of the members of the Standards Committee would be inserted after the introduction, the Annual Report of the Committee be approved for circulation to all Members of the Council and all Parish and Town Councils.

42. MATTERS FROM THE STANDARDS BOARD

The Deputy Monitoring Officer reported that Mr Buckle had been disqualified for being a Councillor for two years following a finding by the Ethical Standards Officer that Mr Buckle’s behaviour had breached the Code of Conduct.

RESOLVED:

THAT the report be noted.

43. UPDATE BY CHAIRMAN ON VARIOUS STANDARDS BOARD MATTERS

The Committee was informed that the Chairman of the Committee was a member of the national Working Party of the Standards Board for England that was planning this years Annual Conference. By virtue of this, and that he would be presenting a paper, the Standards Board would be funding the cost of the Chairman’s attendance at the Conference. It was therefore suggested that another member of the Committee (such as David Watson) accompany the Monitoring Officer (or his representative) to the Conference this year.

The Chairman raised the issue on the lack of circulation to the members of the Committee of the Standards Board Bulletins and their Bulletins for Independent members and other information concerning the Standards Boards Road Shows. The Deputy Monitoring Officer agreed to look into these and remedy the problem.

A Member raised a question relating to the possible increase in ethical and probity issues that Members on the Licensing Committee may experience following the transfer of Liquor Licensing to the Council. The Chairman agreed to raise the issue with other Standards Committees.

44. CHRIS MATHEWS

The Committee noted that Chris Mathews, who had provided Secretarial support to the Isle of Wight Standards Committee since its inception, was seconded to another post and therefore would no longer be providing this support to the Committee.

RESOLVED:

THAT the Committees gratitude and thanks be formally recorded for the excellent service Chris Mathews provided from the inception of the Standards Committee to the present day.

45. WORK PROGRAMME FOR THE COMING YEAR

The Committee considered its Work Programme for the coming year.

RESOLVED:

The Work Plan (set out below) was agreed but with the addition of more details on the induction for new members and the final report on the Ethical Audit to 12 April 2005, the final Ethical Audit report to be circulated as a draft a few days before usual circulation deadline.

Meeting	Agenda Item
Tuesday 12 April 2005	· Final report on the Ethical Audit · Induction Programme post 5 May · Issues arising from Annual Conference · Update on review of ethics and probity in Parish/Town Council context
Tuesday 5 July 2005	· Review of the publication of Members Attendance figures
Tuesday 6 September 2005 (Date to be changed)	· To be determined
Tuesday 8 November 2005	· To be determined
Standing items	· Report on Standards Board activity including guidance; statistics; analysis; case reports. · The Committee’s Work Programme
Other meetings as necessary	· Allegations referred by the Standards Board for England and Wales for local determination. · Requests for dispensations. · Urgent ethical and probity issues as they arise.

CHAIRMAN

Mr A C Bartlett, Mrs E Oulton

Meeting

Agenda Item