Please Contact: Tessa Gilder-Smith
Please email: tessa.gilder-smith@north-norfolk.gov.uk
Please Direct Dial on: 01263 516047
02 June 2014
A meeting of the Standards Committee of North Norfolk District Council will be held in the
Council Chamber at the Council Offices, Holt Road, Cromer on Tuesday 10 June 2014 at
2.00 p.m.
Members of the public who wish to ask a question or speak on an agenda item are
requested to arrive at least 15 minutes before the start of the meeting. It will not always be
possible to accommodate requests after that time. This is to allow time for the Committee
Chair to rearrange the order of items on the agenda for the convenience of members of the
public. Further information on the procedure for public speaking can be obtained from
Democratic Services, Tel: 01263 516047, Email: democraticservices@north-norfolk.gov.uk
Sheila Oxtoby
Chief Executive
To District Members: Mrs H Cox, Mr B J Hannah, Mr P W Moore, Ms B Palmer, Mr J
Savory, Mr R Stevens, and Mr P Williams
Co-opted Members: Mr G Allen, Mr R Barr, Mr A Bullen, Mrs M Evans, Mr H Gupta, Mr A
Nash, Mrs A Shirley
Members of the Management Team, appropriate Officers, Press and Public.
If you have any special requirements in order
to attend this meeting, please let us know in advance
If you would like any document in large print, audio, Braille, alternative
format or in a different language please contact us
Chief Executive: Sheila Oxtoby, Corporate Directors: Nick Baker & Steve Blatch
Tel 01263 513811 Fax 01263 515042 Minicom 01263 516005
Email districtcouncil@north-norfolk.gov.uk Web site northnorfolk.org
AGENDA
1.
TO RECEIVE APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
2.
PUBLIC QUESTIONS
3.
MINUTES
(attached – p. 1)
To approve as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on
11 February 2014.
4.
ITEMS OF URGENT BUSINESS
To determine any items of business which the Chairman decides should be
considered as a matter of urgency pursuant to Section 100B (4) (b) of the Local
Government Act 1972.
5.
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Members are asked at this stage to declare any interests that they may have in any
of the following items on the agenda. The Code of Conduct for Members requires
that declarations include the nature of the interest and whether it is a pecuniary
interest.
6.
PARISH AND DISTRICT MEMBERS’ REGISTER OF INTERESTS AND OFFICER
REGISTER OF GIFTS AND HOSPITALITY
Members are reminded that the Parish and District Members‟ Register of Interests
and Officer Register of Gifts and Hospitality are available for inspection in the
Democratic Services section.
7.
PARISH COUNCILS AND STANDARDS: MOVING FORWARD
To receive an oral update regarding the forthcoming „individual‟ Standards
Engagement Events to be held during July 2014.
8.
EXCLUSION OF PRESS AND PUBLIC
To pass the following resolution:
“That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the press and public
be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that
they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1
and 3 of Part I of Schedule 12A (as amended) to the Act”
9.
STANDARDS COMPLAINTS
Please note this report is to follow
NOT FOR PUBLICATION – BY VIRTUE OF PARAGRAPH 3 OF PART 1 OF
SCHEDULE 12A (AS AMENDED) OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 1972
Summary:
This report advises Members of complaints
received by the Monitoring Officer, the type
of breaches alleged and the status of the
matters. Additional information is provided to
update Members on recent cases.
Recommendations:
Cabinet member(s):
Wards Affected:
Members are asked to note the contents of
the report.
All
All
Agenda Item 3
STANDARDS COMMITTEE
Minutes of a meeting of the Standards Committee held on 11 February 2014
in the Council Chamber, Council Offices, Holt Road, Cromer at 2.00pm.
Members present:
1.
District
Councillors:
Mr B J Hannah
Mr P W Moore
Miss B Palmer
Mr J Savory
Mr R Stevens
Mrs H Cox (Chairman)
Mr P Williams
Co-opted
Members:
Mr R Barr
Mr A Bullen
Mr H Gupta
Mr A Nash
Officers in
Attendance:
The Monitoring Officer
The Democratic Services Officer (TGS)
TO RECEIVE APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies were received from Mr G Allen, Mr M Coates, Mrs M Evans and
Mrs A Shirley.
2.
PUBLIC QUESTIONS
None
3.
MINUTES
The Minutes of the Meeting of the Standards Committee held on 05
November 2013 were approved as a correct record of the meeting and signed
by the Chairman.
4.
ITEMS OF URGENT BUSINESS
There were two items of urgent business received by the committee. The
Chairman informed the committee that the first was with regards to a letter
received and would be dealt with following the exclusion of press and public.
Standards Committee
1
11 February 2014
The second was a receipt of resignation to the committee by co-opted
member Mr M Coates. The committee thanked Mr Coates for his exceptional
hard work as a member of the committee and wished him well in his future
endeavours.
5.
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
None
6.
PARISH AND DISTRICT MEMBERS’ REGISTER OF INTERESTS AND
OFFICER REGISTER OF GIFTS AND HOSPITALITY
The Chairman informed the Committee that the Registers were open to
display and were available for inspection in the Legal Services area.
7.
PARISH COUNCILS AND STANDARDS: FEEDBACK AND MOVING
FORWARD.
The Chairman introduced this item. She commented that members should
find information regarding feedback and development of the Standards events
in their agenda. She further commented that she believed the update showed
that the committee had received good feedback following the events and
progress had been made across the engagement events. She commented
that the presentation had been improved by the last event in order to provide
more clarity, and a factsheet with more detail on the information had been
provided. The Chairman then invited members to ask questions.
1. Mr P Moore commented that he believed the event at North Walsham
had been successful and that he was glad he had attended.
2. Mr P Williams commented that whilst he believed there had been some
progression across the meetings, the initial event had been good enough
that significant improvement wasn’t necessary. The Chairman provided
more information for those not in attendance of any of the events,
suggesting that there was a mixed group of knowledge bases of all those
in attendance, with both clerks and councillors of varied knowledge. She
commented that she believed the events had been useful for those with a
more limited knowledge base however it was understandable that some
clerks found the events limited.
3. The Monitoring Officer commented that he was impressed with the
attendance of the events, and all those in attendance seemed both
enthusiastic and engaged in the content.
4. Mr A Nash asked the Chairman if she believed take-up by parish councils
had been sufficient. The Chairman replied she believed take up had been
average, however it would be possible to target those who had not
responded to any enquires in the future.
5. Mr P Williams queried if there had been less complaints since the outset
of the events. The Monitoring Officer replied that he had received far less
complaints and calls regarding issues in parish and town councils,
however it was also possible that parish and town councils were also
getting used to the new Standards regime and were not escalating
complaints as much. Mr H Gupta commented that it would be interesting
to establish what impact the reduction of the power of co-opted members
had on the complaints system. The Monitoring Officer replied that he
would see if he could establish some anecdotal information on this.
Standards Committee
2
11 February 2014
6. Mr B Hannah commented that the feedback received was particularly
interesting, especially around the comments of parishes enjoying
meetings with one another. He suggested it may be useful to put twice
yearly forums in place to give parish councils this kind of opportunity in
the future. Mr A Nash queried if these events would be Standards
specific or would be more encompassing of parish and town council
issues. He commented that the committee should consider this.
7. MR J Savory commented that new parish councillors may find the rules
and regulations surrounding parishes difficult, and it would be useful if
NNDC could support this. The Chairman agreed, and Mr P Moore
commented that he also agreed, suggesting the district council could be
objective. Mr A Bullen commented that establishing a relationship was
important as it may encourage people to come forward with issues by
increasing confidence.
8. Mr P Williams commented that he believed the planning team was also
working on forums for parish and town councils and it may be useful to
co-ordinate this with them.
9. The Chairman then queried how the committee best believed they should
move the Standards engagement forward, suggesting that she wanted to
ensure the meetings continued at a good pace. She requested that
members of the committee come to the next meeting of the Standards
committee with their ideas.
10. Mr P Moore commented that it would be useful to contact those who
hadn’t responded to properly gauge their interest.
11. The Democratic Services Officer commented that she had sent out
emails regarding organising an event in the Broads area, and had replies
in the positive from two parishes, three parishes had declined, and she
had not had further replies from the remainder emailed. The Chairman
commented that it would be useful to ensure councillors were aware of
the arrangements as opposed to only the clerk.
12. Mr P Williams wished to ensure Catfield and Hickling were added to the
individual events list. The Democratic Services Officer replied that she
would ensure this took place.
13. Mr A Nash commented that in order for councillors to be made aware of
arrangements, it may be possible to get the details of the chairmen of the
councils from the Norfolk Association of Local Councils. The Democratic
Services Officer commented that she would follow up on this. Mr B
Hannah agreed, suggesting chairmen should be written to directly. Mr A
Bullen suggested that asking for the clerks’ input into events may make
them more likely to pass the information on to their members. Mr P
Williams agreed and suggested also passing letters on to the local ward
members to provide them to their parish councils. The Chairman agreed
with this.
14. Mr A Nash commented that it may be useful to have a discussion around
twice annual meetings being an open forum with the planning service.
The Chairman commented she would have this discussion with the
Democratic Services Officer and they could also discuss it at the
following committee meeting.
The Chairman thanked members for their comments, and suggested she would
follow up on actions with the Democratic Services Officer to ensure the
programme was sufficiently pushed forward.
Standards Committee
3
11 February 2014
Standards: General Update
Before moving into private session, the Monitoring Officer provided a general
update on the progress with the new Standards regime since the previous
meeting. He commented that he had attended a national conference for
Independent Persons of the Standards committee which had provided a variety
of information on the new regime. He commented that it was interesting that
the Independent Person at different authorities often had very different
purviews, with some feeling that they were under-utilised or some feeling that
they were not being used in an appropriate manner. He described the role as
being a ‘patchwork’ of different responsibilities at different authorities, with no
one generic outline. He reminded the committee that their own Independent
Person was available to them for whatever the committee deemed necessary,
for example mentoring, advice or just providing an independent view.
He went on to comment on the high court case of Dennehy vs L.B. Ealing
which had challenged the ruling of the Ealing Standards committee. He
commented that the ruling had upheld the decision of the committee,
suggesting that it was encouraging that the high court was upholding the new
regime. On a separate matter, he remarked that the Standards in Public Life
committee were currently considering whether ethical standards should be
extended to third party contractors, and he would keep the committee updated
with the implications of this.
The Chairman thanked the Monitoring Officer for his comments.
8.
EXCLUSION OF THE PRESS AND PUBLIC
The Committee passed the following resolution:
‘That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the press and
public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the
grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined
in paragraphs 1 and 3 of Part I of Schedule 12A (as amended) to the Act’
9.
STANDARDS COMPLAINTS
The Monitoring Officer reported on the complaints received, the type of
breaches alleged and the status of matters. The committee also discussed the
item of urgent business which was of relevance to the committee.
The meeting concluded at 15.14pm
___________
Chairman
Standards Committee
4
11 February 2014