Members are asked to consider whether they have personal or prejudicial interests in connection with any item(s) on this agenda and, if so, to declare them and state what they are.

Members were asked to consider whether they had personal or prejudicial interests in connection with any item(s) on this agenda and, if so, to declare them and state what they were. No such declarations were made.

To receive the minutes of the meeting held on 29 September and 7 December.

The Director of Law, HR and Asset Management, submitted the minutes of the meetings held on 29 September and 7 December.

Further to minute 15 (Attendance at Meetings), Councillor Blakeley reported that members had not received an email from the Director of Law, HR and Asset Management, explaining the reasons why he was unable to attend the meeting on 29 September.

Resolved –

(1)  That the minutes be received.

(2)  That the Director of Law, HR and Asset Management,  be asked to attend the next meeting of this committee on 29 March and explain the reasons for his non-attendance at meetings of this committee.

The Chair has identified a number of issues for further discussion following his attendance at the Annual Assembly of Standards Committees.

The Chair and Vice-Chair referred to their attendance at the Annual Assembly of Standards Committees and presented a paper identifying a number of issues for further discussion.

There was a general discussion during which members identified a number of follow up actions for the Director of Law, HR and Asset Management

-  enquiries with the Standards Board and Merseytravel  regarding their reports on the proceedings of the Annual Assembly of Standards Committees.

-  copies of the Code of Conduct booklet for circulation to all members of the Council

-  the need for further standards training sessions

-  the procedure for adoption of the revised Code of Conduct in 2010

Resolved – That members be requested to seek the views of their respective political groups on the discussion paper and report back to the next meeting.

Verbal report

The Director of Law, HR and Asset Management, referred to arrangements made for 3 Standards Initial Assessment Panel meetings today to progress a number of outstanding complaints, and he thanked members for co-operation in this matter.

Resolved – That the report be noted.