Agenda and minutes

Minutes of meetings held on 9^th October and 13^th December, 2017 (previously circulated). 

The minutes of the meetings held on 9^th October and 13^th December 2017 were agreed as a correct record.

There were no items of urgent business.

To receive declarations by Members of interests in respect of items on this Agenda. 

Members are reminded that, in accordance with the Localism Act 2011, they are required to declare any disclosable pecuniary interests which have not already been declared in the Council’s Register of Interests. (It is a criminal offence not to declare a disclosable pecuniary interest either in the Register or at the meeting). 

Whilst not a legal requirement, in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 9 and in the interests of clarity and transparency, Members should declare any disclosable pecuniary interests which they have already declared in the Register, at this point in the meeting. 

In accordance with Part B Section 2 of the Code Of Conduct, Members are required to declare the existence and nature of any other interests as defined in paragraphs 8(1) or 9(2) of the Code of Conduct. 

There were no declarations of interest.

Report of the Monitoring Officer

The Monitoring Officer presented a report to enable the Committee to consider granting a general dispensation to all members of Council with disclosable pecuniary interests, to allow them to fully participate and vote in any decisions about Council Tax discounts on empty properties.

It had been necessary to defer consideration of the Review of Council Tax Charging Policy for Empty Homes Report at the Council meeting on 20^th December 2017 when, following declarations made by a number of councillors individually and the whole Labour Group, the meeting had become inquorate. 

Under Section 33 of the Localism Act the limited grounds for the granting of dispensations to Members with interests included when, ‘without the dispensation the number of persons prohibited by section 31(4) from participating in any particular business would be so great a proportion of the body transacting the business as to impede the transaction of the business.’ 

The Committee noted that the proposal to seek this dispensation was explained at the Council meeting on 20^th December 2017, and it was intended for the report to be considered by Council on 31^st January 2018.

During the discussion, the Monitoring Officer advised the Committee that some local authorities included a blanket dispensation for such matters within their Constitution.  The Constitution was currently under review and the issue of dispensations would be included as part of that review.

Resolved unanimously:

(1)          That the Standards Committee agrees to grant dispensations to all Councillors under Section 33 of the Localism to enable them to fully participate and vote in any decisions about Council Tax discounts on empty properties.

(2)          That the dispensations continue for a maximum of 4 years or until the Constitution be amended to include the dispensation.

The Committee is recommended to pass the following recommendations in relation to the following items:-

“That, in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item(s) of business, on the grounds that it could involve the possible disclosure of exempt information, as defined in paragraph 1 of Schedule 12A of that Act.”

Members are reminded that, whilst the following item has been marked as exempt, it is for Committee itself to decide whether or not to consider each of them in private or in public. In making the decision, Members should consider the relevant paragraph of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, and also whether the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.  In considering their discretion Members should also be mindful of the advice of Council Officers. 

That, in accordance with Section 110A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it could involve the possible disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 1 of Schedule 12A of that Act.

Report of the Monitoring Officer

The Monitoring Officer presented a report, which advised the Committee about the progress of current complaints and any other code of conduct complaints received since the last report in September 2017.  Members asked a number of questions including the possibility of the Standards Committee having sight of investigation reports.  The Monitoring Officer advised that although the current Constitution did not allow for this it would be possible to amend the Constitution to reflect the Committee’s views during the review, which was currently being undertaken.

Resolved unanimously:

(1)  That the report be noted.

(2)  That, as part of the review of the Constitution, the Constitution  be amended to allow the Standards Committee members sight of investigation reports.