Agenda and minutes

Standards and Conduct Committee - Friday, 4th March, 2016 2.00 pm

Contact: Phil Garnett  Governance Officer

Items
No. Item

1.

Appeals against refusal of inspection of documents

To consider any appeals in accordance with Procedure Rule 15.2 of the Access to Information Procedure Rules (in the event of an appeal the press and public will be excluded).

 

(*In accordance with Procedure Rule 15.2, written notice of an appeal must be received by the Head of Governance Services at least 24 hours before the meeting)

Minutes:

There were no appeals against refusals of inspection of documents.

2.

Exempt Information - Possible exclusion of the press and public

1.  To highlight reports or appendices which officers have identified as containing exempt information, and where officers consider that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information, for the reasons outlined in the report.

 

2.  To consider whether or not to accept the officers recommendation in respect of the above information.

 

3.  If so, to formally pass the following resolution:-

 

RESOLVED – That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following parts of the agenda designated as containing exempt information on the grounds that it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the press and public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information, as follows:-

Minutes:

There were no resolutions to exclude the public.

3.

Late items

To identify items which have been admitted to the agenda by the Chair for consideration.  

 

(The special circumstances shall be specified in the minutes.)

Minutes:

There were no late items submitted for consideration

4.

Declaration of Disclosable Pecuniary and Other Interests

To disclose or draw attention to any disclosable pecuniary interests for the purposes of Section 31 of the Localism Act 2011 and paragraphs 13-18 of the Members’ Code of Conduct.  Also to declare any other significant interests which the Member wishes to declare in the public interest, in accordance with paragraphs 19-20 of the Members’ Code of Conduct.

Minutes:

There were no declarations made.

5.

Apologies for absence

To receive any apologies for absence from the meeting.

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Ingham and Mr Tollefson (The Independent Person).

6.

Minutes - 6th March 2015 pdf icon PDF 58 KB

To receive the minutes of the meeting held on 6th March 2015.

Minutes:

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 6th March 2015 be approved as a correct record subject to the reference to “Shadwell Town Council” being amended to “Shadwell Parish Council”

7.

Annual Report of the Standards and Conduct Committee pdf icon PDF 91 KB

To receive a report of the City Solicitor which presents to the committee an annual report relating to matters within the committee’s terms of reference.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Head of Governance Services presented an annual report relating to matters within the committee’s terms of reference and which provided assurances in respect of the arrangements in place for standards and conduct matters. 

 

By way of update the Head of Governance Services informed Members that since the agenda had been published a further complaint had been received in respect of a Leeds City Council member which had been dismissed at Stage 1.

 

In reviewing the matters set out in the report, consideration was given to the circumstances that might arise where a complaint concerning Disclosable Pecuniary Interests would be considered by the West Yorkshire Police.  The committee emphasised the importance of Members keeping their register of interests up to date, and concluded that Members should be provided with a reminder, on a quarterly basis, to review the content of their Register of Interests.

 

The committee agreed that the annual report should be referred to full Council for consideration in order for full Council to receive assurances as to how the authority’s duty to promote and maintain high standards of conduct (by Members and co-opted Members of the Council) is being discharged.

 

RESOLVED – The Committee resolved

 

(a)  To receive and note the assurances provided in respect of the Council’s arrangements for Standards and Conduct;

(b)  To refer the annual report on Standards and Conduct to full Council for consideration;

(c)   That no amendments, to either the Members’ Code of Conduct or the procedures for considering complaints, are required at this time; and

(d)  That a reminder be sent to all Members to check their register of interests on a three monthly basis.