Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies had been received from Councillor Hipperson.

·             31 January 2022 – Panel Hearing

·             1 February 2022 – Panel Hearing

·             3 November 2022 – Panel Hearing

·             30 November 2022 – Full Committee

The minutes of the previous meeting were agreed by the Committee and signed by the Chair, as follows:

31 January 2022 – Panel Hearing

1 February 2022 – Panel Hearing

3 November 2022 – Panel Hearing

30 November 2022– Full Committee

Please indicate if there are any interests which should be declared.  A declaration of an interest should indicate the nature of the interest (if not already declared on the Register of Interests) and the agenda item to which it relates.  If a disclosable pecuniary interest is declared, the Member should withdraw from the room whilst the matter is discussed.

These declarations apply to all Members present, whether the Member is part of the meeting, attending to speak as a local Member on any item or simply observing the meeting from the public seating area.

There were no declarations of interest.

To consider any business which, by reason of special circumstances, the Chair proposed to accept as urgent under Section 100(b)(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972.

There was no urgent business to report.

Members wishing to speak pursuant to Standing Order 34 should inform the Chair of their intention to do so and on what items they wish to be heard before a decision on that item is taken.

Councillor Collop attended under Standing Order 34  Zoom.

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The Chair reported that he had received an email regarding the conduct of Members at meetings.

The Monitoring Officer reminded the Committee that last year the Council signed up to Debate not Hate LGA campaign.  She suggested that Councillors should be reminded of this and the relevant Standing Orders to deal with the conduct of Councillors at meetings.

Following discussion on the best method of communicating the reminder, it was agreed that specific reference be made in the Code of Conduct, an article in the Members Bulletin and the Monitoring Officer would email the Chairs of Committees and Panels reminding them of the relevant standing orders for dealing with Members conduct at meetings.

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The Monitoring Officer took the Committee through the amendments to the Code of Conduct, as requested at the previous meeting, highlighted by track changes to the document, namely:

·        2.3       Bullying, harassment and discrimination

·        9.2       Interests

·        Appendix B Registering Interests – paragraphs 11 and 12

In response to the item regarding Members conduct at meetings, the Monitoring Officer suggested the following form of words to be included after the first paragraph:

If you are to act in this manner in a public meeting of this Council, the Chair of that meeting will have due regard to Standing Order 15 regarding disorderly conduct of members.

The Monitoring Officer then invited the Committee to approve the Updated Code of Conduct subject to the addition of the wording above (in italics) which was agreed.

RECOMMENDED:

(1)             That full Council approves the updated Members Code of Conduct with the track changes accepted, and the addition of the wording in italics.

(2)             That the Guidance on Complaint Handling be adopted.

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The Standards Committee considered and noted the decision notices of the hearings held on 1 February 2022 and 3 November 2022.

To be convened as required.

To be arranged when required.