Agenda and minutes

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)

There were no appeals.

There were no exempt items.

There were no late items.

There were no declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests.

Apologies were received from Councillor E Tunnicliffe, and Councillor G Harper was in attendance as substitute.

To receive and approve the draft minutes of the meeting held on 9^th March 2018.

The minutes of the meeting held 9^th March 2018 were approved as a correct record.

To consider the report of the Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support providing a commentary on the recent Committee on Standards in Public Life (CSPL) report into Ethical Standards in Local Government. The report considers matters raised in the CSPL report and asks the Standards and Conduct Committee to consider amendments to the existing ethical framework arrangements operating at Leeds City Council.

The Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support submitted a report that provided a commentary on the recent Committee on Standards in Public Life (CSPL) report into Ethical Standards in Local Government. The report considered matters raised in the CSPL report and asked the Standards and Conduct Committee to consider amendments to the existing ethical framework arrangements operating at Leeds City Council.

The Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support introduced the report, providing an update on Leeds’ contribution to the national assessment conducted by the CSPL, and highlighted the key proposed changes in line with best practice as set out in the report.

Members were advised that 26 recommendations have been made by the CSPL to the Government (and others), which will require approval prior to any implementation, and that consultation is anticipated by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government with a formal response due by the summer.

Members’ attention was also drawn to 15 areas of Best Practice aimed at Local Authorities and against which CSPL will be further benchmarking local authorities in 2020.

Members discussed a number of matters, including:

·  CSPL recognition of some practices already implemented in Leeds, such as the Annual Report to Full Council, and the recommended financial threshold for Gifts and Hospitality that is now contained in the CSPL best practice document.

·  The importance of any amendments to Section 27 (2) of the Localism Act 2011 making clear the circumstances where a Member will be construed to be acting, or giving the impression they are acting, in an official capacity and that such a definition should make a clear distinction between activities in a Members private or political life where the Code of Conduct should not apply.

·  The Committee was advised that details of gifts and hospitality received by Members were currently made available on their individual Register of Interests on the Council’s website. However, the CSPL recommend that a separate publication containing details of all Members’ gifts and hospitality should be collated and published in one place on a quarterly basis. Members were supportive of a document being published on a quarterly basis.

·  Members were supportive of amendments put forward by the Scrutiny Board Resources and Strategy and proposed by the Monitoring Officer to the social media guidance at Appendix 5. A Member also cautioned about the possible perception of Members endorsing other social media users’ comments. 

The Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support confirmed that the observations of the Committee and the amended Social Media Guidance will be communicated to Group Whips. The Parish Council Members present welcomed the idea of a single Members’ Code of Conduct for Parish Councils, in line with the Leeds City Council Members’ Code of Conduct. The Committee was informed that a Members’ Code of Conduct suitable for use across all Councils is currently being developed by the Local Government Association (LGA).

RESOLVED –

a)  That the contents of the report be noted;

b)  That the Committee recommend to General Purpose Committee that the Member’s Code  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

To consider the report of the City Solicitor presenting the work carried out by the Monitoring Officer and her staff to support the committee throughout the year.  The report also demonstrates the ways in which the Authority has fulfilled its statutory duty to promote and maintain high standards of conduct.

The City Solicitor submitted a report that presented the work carried out by the Monitoring Officer and her staff to support the Committee throughout the year. The report also demonstrated the ways in which the Authority has fulfilled its statutory duty to promote and maintain high standards of conduct.

The Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support introduced the report, highlighting the lower number of complaints for 2018/19 than previous years.

Members were also informed of a request following publication of the report, for a Members’ home address to be withheld the public. The Monitoring Officer had granted the permission to withhold this information on the grounds of intimidation.

RESOLVED – That the contents of the report be noted.

To consider the report of the City Solicitor presenting to the committee an annual report relating to matters within the committee’s terms of reference and ask Members to refer the report to full Council for consideration.

The City Solicitor submitted a report that presented to the Committee an annual report relating to matters within the Committee’s terms of reference and asked Members to refer the report to full Council for consideration.

The Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support introduced the report, advising Members that the report would be amended to reflect the additional permission to withhold details of a Members’ address, as described during consideration of the previous item.

RESOLVED –

a)  That the draft Annual Report to Full Council at Appendix 1 be agreed;

b)  That the Annual Report at Appendix 1 be referred to Full Council for consideration.

The meeting ended at 2:55pm.