Present at the meeting:
Elected Members
- Councillor Mrs S Dewhurst
- Councillor J Ellis
- Councillor B J Fagan
- Councillor Mrs J Prescott
- Councillor C Ready
- Councillor P Thompson
- Councillor F B Walker
Independent Members
- Mr G Wood (Chairman)
- Mr R Kidd
- Mr D A Lea
- Mrs P A Wheal
- Mr P G Pennington
Parish Council Members
- Councillor Mrs M A Thomson (Haigh)
18 Apologies for absence: Councillor R Winkworth and Councillor M J Crosby (Shevington Parish Council).
19 Minutes: The minutes of the meeting of this Committee held on 29 July 2008 were approved as a correct record.
20 Exclusion of the public - Section 100a Local Government Act 1972: Resolved: The public is excluded from the meeting when the Committee discusses the following item for the reason set out below:-
| Agenda item no |
Title of report |
Minute no. |
Description of exempt information by reference to the paragraph number in Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 |
| E1 |
Outcome of Assessment Sub Committee – 5 August 2008 |
25 |
1 (Information about any named person).
The public interest in making the exception is that the Standards Board itself does not publish the decision as they have not been the subject of a full investigation
|
21 Adjudication panel for England/ethical standards officers’ decisions: There were none.
22 Standards Committee – Independent Members: The Committee considered a report, that informed Members of the Council’s decision to renew the membership of three independent members of the Standards Committee for the following terms:-
- Mr D Lea for a period of three years from 1 September 2008;
- Mr R Kidd for a period of three years from 1 September 2008; and
- Mr G Wood for a period of up to one year.
Members were also advised that the Council had delegated authority to the Service Director – Borough Solicitor to advertise for a replacement independent member to ensure that the full independent membership of the Standards Committee was maintained.
Resolved: The Committee endorses the Council’s decision to renew the membership of three independent members.
23 Parish issues: There were none.
24 Discussion period for Members to raise issues: Resolved: (1) The Committee authorises the Monitoring Officer to request the Independent Remuneration Panel to re-assess the allowance paid to the Independent Members of the Standards Committee, in view of the increasing requirements of the role.
(Mr G Wood (the Chairman), Mr D A Lea, Mr R Kidd and Mrs P A Wheal declared personal interests in this item and remained in the room during consideration there of).
(2) The Committee agrees to inform the Monitoring Officer of an alternative nomination to attend the Standards Board conference in October, should the Chairman of the Standards Committee be unavailable.
25 Outcome of Assessment Sub Committee – 5 August 2008 (a) Case Z38/1: The Committee considered the findings of the Assessment Sub-Committee in the above-mentioned case. This related to an allegation that during the election campaign leading up to the local elections in May 2008, a Member had publicised a filmed statement on the internet in which he allegedly accused the complainant’s son of driving a car with his name on a private number plate.
The complainant confirmed that the car in question belonged to herself and she now felt vulnerable driving the car due to some form of possible reprisal. The complainant considered that the alleged actions of the Member went beyond acceptable canvassing and represented an abuse of his position as a Councillor.
Having taken account of the available information, the Sub Committee did not believe that a potential breach of the Code of Conduct was disclosed and therefore dismissed the complaint due to insufficient information and the lack of evidence provided.
Resolved: The Committee accepts the report.
(b) Case Z38/2: The Committee considered the findings of the Assessment Sub-Committee in the above-mentioned case. The Sub Committee had requested that published evidence referred to by the complainant was to be submitted to the Sub Committee for consideration prior to any decision being taken. The complaint therefore stands adjourned at this time.
(c) Case Z38/3: The Committee considered the findings of the Assessment Sub-Committee in the above-mentioned case. The Sub Committee had requested that published evidence referred to by the complainant was to be submitted to the Sub Committee for consideration prior to any decision being taken. The complaint therefore stands adjourned at this time.
(d) Case Z38/4: The Committee considered the findings of the Assessment Sub-Committee in the above-mentioned case. The Sub Committee took account of the available information but did not believe that a potential breach of the Code of Conduct was disclosed and therefore dismissed the complaint.
The Complainant had requested a review of the Assessment Sub Committee’s decision and therefore the issue would be referred to the Review Sub Committee.
(Mr G Wood (the Chairman) declared a prejudicial interest in this item because of his connection with the issue and left the meeting prior to consideration of this item. The Vice Chairman (Councillor F B Walker) occupied the chair during consideration of this report).
In relation to cases Z38/2, Z38/3 and Z38/4, no details were provided to the Standards Committee as it was possible that members of the Standards Committee may at a later stage be involved in consideration of the issues and it was considered to be inappropriate to allow any pre-consideration of such a review.
26 Outcome of investigations by the Standards Board: There were none.
