Agenda and minutes

Venue: The Jeffrey Room, The Guildhall, St. Giles Square, Northampton, NN1 1DE. View directions

Contact: Tracy Tiff, Scrutiny Officer  01604 837408 Email: ttiff@northampton.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Cathrine Russell, Councillor Les Marriott and Councillor Terrie Eales.

2.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 60 KB

 

The Standards Committee to approve the minutes of the meeting held on 19 March 2018.

 

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on 19 March 2018 were signed by the Chair as a true and accurate record.

 

3.

Deputations / Public Addresses

Minutes:

There were none.

4.

Declarations of Interest

Minutes:

Councillor Alan Bottwood and Councillor Suresh Patel declared interests in their capacity as Parish Councillors in agenda item 5.

5.

Code of Conduct Arrangements Complaints pdf icon PDF 109 KB

The Standards Committee to consider a report regarding complaints received under the Arrangements for dealing with allegations of breaches of the Council’s Code of Conduct and of Codes of Conduct adopted by Parish Councils.

Minutes:

The Standards Committee received a report detailing statistics in relation to Code of Conduct Arrangements complaints.

 

The Standards Committee discussed the complaints listed.

 

In relation to a query regarding the recommendation of an Investigator from a Code of Conduct complaint; the Committee was advised that the Code would be looked at and should it need to be altered it would be brought to both the Standards Committee and the Constitution Review Working Party for consideration.   

 

The Committee was further advised that the Solicitor on behalf of the Monitoring Officer in consultation with the Independent Person has undertaken an initial assessment for the two complaints regarding a Borough Councillor; determination was for there to be an alternative form of resolution.  Further update in due course.

 

The process regarding complaints was explained, detailing why, on occasions it can take some time for there to be an outcome following an investigation.

 

RESOLVED:   That:

 

 (1)  The statistical data in relation to the number of complaints received and dealt with is noted.

 

(2)  Statistical data in relation to the number of complaints received and dealt with is presented to the Committee at each meeting.

6.

Register of gifts and hospitality

Verbal update

Minutes:

The Standards Committee received a verbal update regarding the process for Register of Gifts and Hospitality.   The process and guidance was referred to.  

 

RESOLVED: That the update is noted.

 

8.

Matters of Urgency which by reason of special circumstances the chair is of the opinion should be considered

Minutes:

There were none.

 

At this point, the Chair advised that as Councillor Zoe Smith was no longer a member of the Committee there was a need to review the membership of the Standards Working Group (Work Plan). The membership for 2017-2018 comprised: Councillors Patel, Oldham, B Markham and Smith.  He asked for the Committee to nominate a Councillor to replace Councillor Smith on the Working Group.

 

Councillors were advised to contact the Scrutiny Officer should they want to be a member of this Working Group.