Meeting documents
Standards Committee
Monday, 26th November 2007
Present
Chair
D Hawkins
Councillors
A Bridson, Karen Hayes, Sarah Quinn, SL Rowlands
Independent members
Ken Harrison
Deputy
JV Stapleton (for Cllr WJ Davies)
Apologies
Mr KD Jones
Index to Minutes
- Minute 16 - INDEPENDENT MEMBERS
- Minute 17 - APPOINTMENT OF CHAIR
- Minute 18 - DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
- Minute 19 - MINUTES
- Minute 20 - MATTERS ARISING
- Minute 21 - LOCAL GOVERNMENT OMBUDSMAN - COMPLAINTS - ACTION PLAN AND CURRENT PERFORMANCE
- Minute 22 - CODE OF CONDUCT
- Minute 23 - EXEMPT INFORMATION - EXCLUSION OF MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
- Minute 24 - STANDARDS BOARD DECISION NOTICE
- Minute 25 - ANY OTHER BUSINESS
Minute 16 - INDEPENDENT MEMBERS
Minute Text :
The Committee noted the appointment of the two new independent members that were appointed by the Council on the recommendation of the members' panel: Mr Brian Cummings and Mr Kenneth Harrison. The Committee welcomed the new members to the Committee.
Minute 17 - APPOINTMENT OF CHAIR
Minute Text :
The Committee considered the appointment of a Chair for the remainder of the Municipal Year. The Committee noted that it was expected that the regulations arising from the Local Government and Public Health Act would require an independent Member to be appointed Chair. However, as the independent Members were newly-appointed, the Committee felt it was more appropriate to appoint an experienced Member.
Minute Decision :
Resolved - That Councillor Dave Hawkins be appointed Chair for the remainder of the Municipal Year.
Minute 18 - DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Minute Text :
The Members of the Committee were invited to consider whether they had a personal or prejudicial interest in connection with any of the items on the agenda and, if so, to declare it and state the nature of such interest. No declarations were made.
Minute 19 - MINUTES
Minute Text :
Minute Decision :
Resolved - That the minutes of the previous meeting, held on 25 September 2007, which were submitted to and accepted by the Council on 29 October be received.
Minute 20 - MATTERS ARISING
Minute Text :
There were no matters arising.
Minute 21 - LOCAL GOVERNMENT OMBUDSMAN - COMPLAINTS - ACTION PLAN AND CURRENT PERFORMANCE
Minute Text :
The Committee considered a report of the Deputy Chief Executive/Director of Corporate Services which set out an Action Plan for improving response times for complaints made to the Local Government Ombudsman (LGO) and advised Members of current performance.
Members had previously considered this matter at their meeting in September which highlighted an average response of 112 days. The figure included multiple cases involving a complex housing benefit issue which was the subject of litigation. If the cases were not considered, the average would have been 43 days.
An Action Plan had been prepared to improve response times this year, and a copy was circulated to the Committee.
The key features were:
- a dedicated officer a dedicated officer responsible for co-ordinating and tracking responses, with nominated deputies; and
- regular reporting on performance to Legal and Member Services Management Team (monthly), Chief Officers and the Standards Committee quarterly.
Most of the actions identified in the plan had been implemented and have resulted in an improved performance.
The figures for the second and third quarters showed significant improvements on the first quarter as the actions identified in the Plan had been implemented. Therefore, it was anticipated that this improvement would be maintained resulting in average response times over the full year being better than the target. It was intended to set an intended response target of 21 days to ensure the improvements continued.
Councillor Rowlands felt that the Action Plan was excellent and queried the process for alerts to be generated when targets were not being met. The Acting Monitoring Officer and Proper Officer described the alerting system that was in place and referred to the means by which Legal and Member Services Management team could identify any blockages in the system.
Mr Cummings asked if there were any guarantees that this system would produce improved results. The Acting Monitoring Officer and Proper Officer referred to the fact that the figures reported for the second and third quarters indicated that the Action Plan was having an impact on reducing response times.
Minute Decision :
Resolved - That
(1) the Action Plan appended to the report be approved;
(2) further reports on progress and performance be received.
Minute 22 - CODE OF CONDUCT
Minute Text :
As requested at the last meeting, a transcript of the Standards Board's DVD "The Code Uncovered" had been prepared and circulated and arrangements were being made to ensure that all members had an opportunity to view the DVD.
Minute 23 - EXEMPT INFORMATION - EXCLUSION OF MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
Minute Text :
Minute Decision :
Resolved - That, under section 100 (A) (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined by the relevant paragraphs of Part I of Schedule 12A (as amended) to that Act.
Minute 24 - STANDARDS BOARD DECISION NOTICE
Exempt :
NOT FOR PUBLICATION: Exempt by virtue of paragraph 1, Part I, Schedule 12A (as amended), Local Government Act 1972.
Minute Text :
The Acting Monitoring Officer and Proper Officer reported on a complaint against a councillor that had been considered by the Standards Board for England. The Committee noted the decision that the complaint should not be referred for investigation.
Minute Decision :
Resolved - That the report be noted.
Minute 25 - ANY OTHER BUSINESS
Minute Text :
There were no items of urgent business.
(Minutes Published: 7 December 2007)