Meeting documents
Standards Committee
Monday, 27th November 2006
Venue : Committee Room 2 - Wallasey Town Hall
Index to Agendas
Item 1 - APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT MEMBER
Summary:
Further to minute 11 (25/09/06), the Committee is advised that the Council has confirmed the appointment of Mr Kenneth Jones to fill the vacancy of independent member.
Item 2 - DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Summary:
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.
Item 3 - MINUTES
Summary:
To receive the minutes of the previous meeting, held on 25 September 2006.
Item 4 - MATTERS ARISING
Summary:
To consider any matters arising from the minutes that are not dealt with elsewhere on the agenda. In particular the Head of Legal and Member Services will report on:
(a) Vexatious persons (minute 12) - oral report
(b) Conduct in partnerships (minute 15) - recent reports to the Executive Board and the Audit and Risk Management Committee are being circulated for information.
Item 5 - LOCAL GOVERNMENT OMBUDSMAN'S ANNUAL LETTER - ACTION PLAN
Summary:
Further to minute 13 (25/09/06),
(a) the attached report provides an update on progress on an action plan to reduce the time taken to respond to Ombudsman complaints;
(b) the Head of Legal and Member Services will report back from his meeting with the Assistant Ombudsman.
Recommendation:
(1) That the Committee note the actions that have been taken and make any comments, and the Local Government Ombudsman be notified accordingly.
(2) That the Local Government Ombudsman be asked to provide the training course “Effective Complaints Handling” for up to 15 key staff, as soon as practicable.
Attachments: (click on an attachment to view it)
Item 6 - WORKPLAN FOR 2006/07
Summary:
At the last meeting the Committee agreed to defer consideration of its workplan pending a report back from the Annual Assembly of Standards Committees, which took place on 16/17 October. The Chair and the Head of Legal and Member Services will report.
Item 7 - WHITE PAPER: "STRONG AND PROSPEROUS COMMUNITIES"
Summary:
The Committee's attention is drawn to those proposals within the White Paper issued by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, "Strong and Prosperous Communities", that are likely to affect the role of the Standards Committee. Attached, for information, is a copy of the summary, together with section 3: "Effective, accountable and responsive local government", which contains the relevant paragraphs. The whole of the White Paper can be viewed on or downloaded from the DCLG website: www.communities.gov.uk.
Recommendation:
The Committee is asked to note the proposals.
Item 8 - ANY OTHER BUSINESS
Summary:
To consider any other business that the Chair accepts as being urgent.
Agenda Published: 17 November 2006