Agenda and draft minutes

The Chair welcomed everybody to the meeting and welcomed the newly appointed Independent Member, Claire McManus to her first meeting of the Standards and Conduct Committee. The Chair also wished Gordon Tollefson a speedy recovery after his recent operation.

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 formal late items.

To disclose or draw attention to any interests in accordance with Leeds City Council’s ‘Councillor Code of Conduct’.

No interests were raised.

Apologies were received on behalf of Councillor, Downes, Grahame and Councillor Stephenson. Gordon Tollefson was also unable to attend the meeting.

To receive and approve the attached minutes from the meeting held on Monday, 14^th March 2022 and to receive and note the attached notes of the consultative meeting held on Friday, 10^th March 2023.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held Monday, 14^th March 2022, be approved as an accurate record and the consultative notes of the meeting held on Friday, 10^th March 2023 be noted.

To receive and consider the attached report of the City Solicitor that summarises the work carried out by the Monitoring Officer and her staff and the Council’s ethical framework, to support the Committee throughout the year.

The City Solicitor submitted a report that presented an overview of the work carried out by the Monitoring Officer and her staff to support the Committee throughout the year.

The Head of Democratic Services introduced the report, highlighted the following key areas: -

·  It was noted that Members of the authority and Parish and Town Councils have met their obligations in notifying any disclosable pecuniary interests within 28 days of a change in circumstance relating to such interests.

·  In relation to sensitive interests, there has been no change in the treatment of addresses.

·  In terms of dispensations, no further requests have been submitted to the Head of Paid Service.

·  No changes are proposed to the complaint procedure this year. It was confirmed that 12 complaints were received in respect of Leeds City Council Members last year, and this has reduced to 5 complaints this Municipal Year.

·  Last year the Monitoring Officer report 9 complaints relating to Parish and Town Councillors in the Leeds area. This Municipal Year, the Monitoring Officer has received 1 complaint relating to Town and Parish Councillors in the Leeds area.

·  Mr Tollefson’s term of office has been extended to July 2026. His assistance throughout the year work is acknowledged.

A member sought clarity on the complaint process and the involvement of elected members during this process. The member requested that additional information is added in relation to some more background context on the detail of the complaint. The City Solicitor explained that the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 and the delegation powers as set out in the Council’s Constitution delegates Standards and Conduct Committee work to the City Solicitor. It was reported that in Leeds, generally, complaints do not reach further than a Stage 1 complaint, during which an Independent Person is consulted as part of the procedure. If a complaint reached Stage 2, the Chair of the Standards and Conduct Committee would be consulted as part of the procedure. Were a complaint to reach Stage 3, members of the Committee would be involved in dealing with the complaint . Independent Persons are appointed and consulted as part of the oversight of the process.

In responding to a question regarding the ‘need’ for the Standards and Conduct Committee to meet, it was confirmed that it is a requirement of best practice that the Committee meets at least once per year. Additionally, it was noted that the lack of issues presented to the Standards and Conduct Committee, is a testament to the standards of conduct that Leeds City Council members abide by.

However, Officers agreed to add further contextual information to future reports whilst also preserving the anonymity of complainants and subject members.. Further to this, members confirmed that they were content with the process as it stands, and the explanations / clarity provided by officers.

RESOLVED – That the contents of the submitted report, together with the comments arising from the Committee’s discussion, be noted.

To receive and consider the attached report of the City Solicitor which seeks the committee’s approval of the Annual Report of the Standards and Conduct Committee and supporting the Chair in presenting the Annual Report to Full Council.

The City Solicitor submitted a report presenting for Members’ consideration the Annual Report of the Standards and Conduct Committee which provided an overview of the key areas of activity which had been undertaken over the past year from within the Committee’s terms of reference.

In presenting the report, the Head of Democratic Services highlighted that following consideration and approval by the Committee, the Annual Report would be submitted to Full Council in March for consideration as required.

The Chair added that she is thankful for the team who arrange the comprehensive member training regime, and to ensure the appropriate safeguards are in place.

RESOLVED – To:

a)  Approve the draft Annual Report (as attached at Appendix 1) and

b)  Support the Chair in presenting the Annual Report to full Council.