Meeting documents
Standards Committee
Thursday, 25th March 2004
Venue : Committee Room 3 - Wallasey Town Hall
Index to Agendas
Item 1 - MINUTES
Summary:
To receive the minutes of the meeting held on 22 July 2003, which were approved by the Council without amendment on 20 October 2003.
Recommendation:
That the minutes be received.
Item 2 - APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT MEMBERS
Summary:
The Borough Solicitor and Secretary will report that, pursuant to minute 97 (Council - 20/10/03), Mr J P Haywood has been re-appointed, and Mr B Lowe and Mrs L M Rodgers appointed as independent members of this Committee for a period of four years from 1 November 2003.
All three independent members have been asked to provide notifications of their financial and other interests in accordance with section 81 (1) of the Local Government Act 2000.
Recommendation:
That the appointments be noted.
Item 3 - DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Summary:
Members are invited to consider whether they have personal or prejudicial interests in connection with any of the items on this agenda and, if so, to declare them and state what they are.
Item 4 - CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REVIEW
Summary:
Towards the end of last year the Audit Commission, as part of their corporate governance review, looked at gifts and hospitality within the Authority. They produced a draft report, which was agreed in February, and an Action Plan has since been prepared. The Committee is requested to consider the Audit Commission's report and approve the action plan and time- scales contained within it.
Recommendation:
That the Committee discuss the report and action plan and comment, in particular, on the points contained in the action plan and agree to monitor its implementation.
Attachments: (click on an attachment to view it)
Item 5 - OUTCOME OF STANDARDS BOARD INVESTIGATION
Summary:
A complaint was made to the Standards Board in December 2002 that a member disclosed confidential information and brought his office or authority into disrepute. The Standards Board completed their investigation on 4 February 2004, and the case summary received from the Standards Board is attached (Appendix 1) for noting. The case did raise some practical issues which identified that the Authority could improve in its administration and I will discuss this with the committee on the evening.
Recommendation:
That the Standards Board's case summary be noted.
Attachments: (click on an attachment to view it)
Item 6 - DATES OF MEETINGS, 2004/05
Summary:
Members are asked to note that the committee calendar for 2004/05 includes the following dates for meetings of the Standards Committee:
1 September and 8 November 2004;
22 March 2005.
Further meetings to consider complaints against members of the Council, or for training purposes, will be arranged as required in consultation with party spokespersons and the independent members.
Recommendation:
That the position regarding meetings in 2004/05 be noted.
Item 7 - ANY OTHER BUSINESS
Summary:
To consider any items of urgent business accepted by the Chair.
Agenda Published: 18 March 2004