Meeting documents
Standards Committee
Tuesday, 13th February 2007
Present
Chair
D Hawkins
Vice-Chair
SL Rowlands
Councillors
A Bridson, WJ Davies, SR Mountney, Jean Quinn
Co-opted members
Mr J P Haywood, Mr KD Jones
Apologies
Mrs L M Rodgers
Index to Minutes
- Minute 23 - DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
- Minute 24 - MINUTES
- Minute 25 - MATTERS ARISING
- Minute 26 - REVISED CODE OF CONDUCT FOR LOCAL AUTHORITY MEMBERS
- Minute 27 - "UNREASONABLY PERSISTENT" COMPLAINANTS AND "UNREASONABLE COMPLAINANT BEHAVIOUR" - GUIDANCE FROM THE OMBUDSMAN
Minute 23 - DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Minute Text :
The members of the Committee are invited to consider whether they have a personal or prejudicial interest in connection with any of the items on this agenda and, if so, to declare it and state the nature of such interest. No interests were declared.
Minute 24 - MINUTES
Minute Text :
The Head of Legal and Member Services reported that the minutes of the previous meeting, held on 27 November 2006, had been submitted to the Council meeting on 18 December 2006 and accepted without amendment.
Minute Decision :
Resolved - That the minutes be received.
Minute 25 - MATTERS ARISING
Minute Text :
Further to minute 19, the Head of Legal and Member Services referred to Item 5 on the agenda which contained guidance from the Local Government Ombudsman on "unreasonably persistent" complainants and "unreasonable complainant behaviour".
Also in relation to minute 19, the Head of Legal and Member Services indicated that he had contacted Manchester City Council regarding a pilot scheme for ensuring probity in partnerships but had been unable to gain any information on this issue.
With reference to minute 20, it was reported that the Local Government Ombudsman was delivering the training course entitled "effective complaints handling" on 13th March and all departments had been invited to nominate attendees.
Further to minute 21, it was noted that the draft Code of Conduct for Members was contained within item 5 of the agenda.
Minute 26 - REVISED CODE OF CONDUCT FOR LOCAL AUTHORITY MEMBERS
Minute Text :
The Head of Legal and Member Services introduced the Department of Communities and Local Government’s consultation paper on the revised Code of Conduct for Members. It sought members’ views on the draft in order that any response may be made by the deadline of 9 March 2007. It was intended that the response of the Standards Committee be forwarded to the Party Leaders for any additional comments to be incorporated.
The Chair welcomed the greater clarity contained within the draft Code. Councillor. Quinn indicated that she felt there were still many ambiguous areas within the Code, and the Head of Legal and Member Services explained that further guidance would be issued by the Standards Board for England in due course. In addition, officers within Legal Services were happy to assist with queries members had, particularly around declaring interests at meetings.
Mr Haywood queried the removal of the definition of a friend, which it was proposed would be contained within the term 'close personal association' within the new Code.
It was noted that, following the implementation of the new Code of Conduct, appropriate training would be provided to Members on its content.
Minute Decision :
Resolved - That
(1) the report be noted.
(2) the views contained within the text above be submitted as the Council's response to the consultation paper on “Amendments to the Model Code of Conduct for Local Authority Members”, subject to any additional comments to be received from the Party Leaders.
Minute 27 - "UNREASONABLY PERSISTENT" COMPLAINANTS AND "UNREASONABLE COMPLAINANT BEHAVIOUR" - GUIDANCE FROM THE OMBUDSMAN
Minute Text :
The Standards Committee considered guidance that had been issued by the Local Government Ombudsman, with the aim of helping local authorities to formulate policies on unreasonably persistent complainants and unreasonable complainant behaviour.
Councillor Rowlands suggested that the guidance circulated indicated that the Council needed its own policy on this matter.
As a suggested way forward, the Head of Legal and Member Services offered to draw up a list of areas that needed to be covered by the Council's policy for discussion by a sub-group of the Committee. It was suggested that this sub-group consist of one member from each political party and one independent member and that their report and draft policy be subsequently considered by the Standards Committee. The draft Policy would then be forwarded to the Cabinet and the Council for formal approval.
Minute Decision :
Resolved - That a sub-group of Members formulate a Wirral policy on "unreasonably persistent" complainants and "unreasonable complainant behaviour" for consideration by the next meeting of the Standards Committee.
(Minutes Published: 20 February 2007)