Meeting documents
Standards Committee
Monday, 30th June 2008
Venue : Committee Room 1 - Wallasey Town Hall
Index to Agendas
Item 1 - APPOINTMENT OF CHAIR (AND VICE-CHAIR)
Summary:
To appoint a Chair (and Vice-Chair) from the independent members of the Committee.
Item 2 - DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Summary:
The members of the Committee are asked 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 and MATTERS ARISING
Summary:
The Committee is asked to receive the minutes of the previous meeting, held on 31 March 2008, which were accepted by the Council on 21 April 2008.
To consider any matters arising from those minutes that are not dealt with elsewhere on the agenda.
Recommendation:
That the minutes be received.
Item 4 - UNREASONABLY PERSISTENT COMPLAINANTS AND UNREASONABLE COMPLAINANT BEHAVIOUR
Summary:
This report seeks endorsement of minor amendments to the Council’s policies on unreasonably persistent complainants and unreasonable complainant behaviour and seeks the approval of the Standards Committee to forward the documents to the Cabinet and the Council for formal approval.
Recommendation:
That
(1) the draft policies on unreasonably persistent complainants and unreasonable complainant behaviour be considered and endorsed with any amendments; and
(2) the policies as endorsed be then forwarded to the Cabinet and the Council for formal approval.
Attachments: (click on an attachment to view it)
Item 5 - ANNUAL ASSEMBLY OF STANDARDS COMMITTEES
Summary:
The Acting Monitoring Officer and Proper Officer will provide an update to the Committee.
Recommendation:
That the update be noted.
Item 6 - OMBUDSMAN REPORT - REPORT NO 07/C/03447
Summary:
This report outlines the background to the Local Government Ombudsman’s (“the Ombudsman”) report, issued on 10 April 2008, regarding Mr H and his child S. The Ombudsman has made a finding of maladministration and injustice against the Council.
Recommendation:
That the Committee:
(1) note the findings from the Ombudsman’s report and the concerns expressed in the Director's report about the Ombudsman’s approach in this case; and
(2) authorise the Acting Monitoring Officer and Proper Officer to respond to the Ombudsman stating that the Council will implement the recommendations contained in her report.
Attachments: (click on an attachment to view it)
Item 7 - LOCAL ASSESSMENT
Summary:
The Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 (“the Act”) provides, among other things, for a revised ethical framework for local government. I reported to this committee 28 January and 31 March 2008 on the implications of the changes (minutes 32 and 39 refer). The relevant provisions came in to force on 8 May 2008. Annual Council approved the necessary amendments to the terms of reference to this committee necessitated by the changes in the law (minute 10 refers). This report sets out for the committee’s consideration the impact of the changes and seeks approval for the steps necessary to implement the changes.
Recommendation:
That
(1) the proposal to seek to establish a Merseyside Forum for Independent members be approved;
(2) the amended terms of reference of the committee be noted;
(3) the establishment of the sub-committees be approved with the terms of reference contained within Appendix 5;
(4) the documentation to be placed on the Council’s website be endorsed and the committee gives views on any other means of publication of the scheme;
(5) the assessment criteria contained within Appendix 7 are approved;
(6) the Protocol for dealing with complaints attached as Appendix 8 of this report be approved;
(7) the Terms of Reference of the sub-committees, the assessment criteria and the protocol for dealing with complaints be referred to Cabinet and Council as part of the review of the Constitution; and
(8) Committee notes the training event to be held on 16 July 2008.
Attachments: (click on an attachment to view it)
- Report of the Deputy Chief Executive/ Director of Corporate Services
- Appendix 1 (The role and make-up of Standards Committees)
- Appendix 2 (Local assessment of complaints)
Item 8 - ANY OTHER BUSINESS
Summary:
To consider any other business that the Chair accepts as being urgent.
Agenda Published: 20 June 2008