Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Andrew Kilbride, Councillor Cathrine Russell and Parish Councillor Linda Hook (Co Optee).

The minutes of the meeting held on 17 September 2018 were signed by the Chair as a true and accurate record.

There were none.

The Chair welcomed Mr Montague, observer, to the meeting.

There were none.

The Standards Committee to confirm the appointment process – One Co Optee (Independent Member).

The Committee was advised that Kim Holland (Independent – Co-Optee) had resigned and therefore there was a vacancy.

The Chair suggested that the vacancy is advertised on the Council’s website and the Communications Team would also be asked to promote the vacancy through various means. 

The Standards Working Group would hold interviews for the vacancy at its February 2019 and make recommendations to the March meeting of this Committee.

RESOLVED:   (1)   That the recruitment process for the vacancy of Co-Optee (Independent Member) takes place.

                          (2) That the Working Group (Work Plan) brings recommendations to the Standards Committee for appointments by co-option of  the  Independent Member of the Standards Committee

The Standards Committee to review its updated Training Strategy for all Members of the Council in relation to ethical and governance matters and specific training for Members of the Standards Committee

The Standards Committee agreed to the additional wording to be included within its Training Strategy:

“Where relevant, Parish Councillors will be invited to attend training.”

RESOLVED: That the Councillor Training Strategy – Ethical and Governance Matters is updated to include the above sentence.

The Committee received an update on the effectiveness of the whistleblowing arrangements in place at Northampton Borough Council.  The activities that had taken place since 19 June 2017 were noted. 

The Committee was advised that the Governance and Risk Manager had received one whistleblowing complaint via email and this was in the process of being investigated.

RESOLVED: That the information provided in relation to the effectiveness of the Council’s Whistleblowing Policy and Procedure was noted.

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.

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

The Standards Committee discussed the complaints listed.

The Standards Committee requested that comparison data in relation to Code of Conduct Arrangements complaints is provided to the next meeting of the Committee.

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.

(3) Comparison data in relation to Code of Conduct Arrangements complaints is provided to the next meeting of the Committee.

There were none.