Present at the meeting:
- Councillor Mrs S Dewhurst
- Councillor B J Fagan
- Councillor Mrs J Prescott
- Councillor P Thompson
- Councillor R Winkworth
- Councillor F B Walker
Independent Members
- Mr P G Pennington (Chairman)
- Mr D Lea
- Mrs P Wheal
Parish Council Members
- Councillor M J Crosby (Shevington)
- Councillor Mrs A Thomson (Haigh)
Officers in attendance
- Martyn Kenyon – Head of Risk Management
- Mike Williamson – Committee Services Officer
Officers presenting reports
- Kevin Lawson – Service Director, Borough Solicitor
39 Apologies for absence: Councillor J Ellis and T W Halliwell.
40 Minutes: The minutes of the meeting of this Committee held on 24 November 2009 were approved as a correct record.
41 Adjudication Panel for England/ethical standards officers’ decisions: There were none.
42 Publication of Members’ Interests on the website (Minute 6 refers): The Committee considered a report of the Service Director – Borough Solicitor, Kevin Lawson, which requested Members to review whether the register of Members interests should be placed on the Council’s website.
The Committee was advised that the register was currently maintained by the Service Director – Borough Solicitor and was available for inspection by members of the public at Wigan Town Hall. The Audit Commission, in their Use of Resources Review, had suggested that those authorities who placed their register of interests on their websites demonstrated good practice in openness and transparency.
The Committee agreed that it would be good practice to place Elected Members interests on the website, however, the Committee did not feel it was appropriate for personal details of the Independent Members to automatically be made available on the website as they did not hold a political post. It was suggested that the agreement of Independent Members should be obtained prior to any personal information being published on the website.
Resolved: The Committee:-
- agrees that Elected Members interests are published on the Council’s website;
- agrees that the agreement of Independent Members of the Committee be obtained prior to any personal information being published on the Council’s website
43 Review of Member/Officer protocol (minute 16 refers): The Committee considered a report of the Service Director – Borough Solicitor, which sought Members’ views on the draft revised protocol on Member/Officer relations.
The Committee was advised that research in relation to other Member/Officer Protocols had identified a model which had been developed with the assistance of IDeA. Using this as a base, and adapting the draft to cover the known issues raised and experienced in Wigan, a revised draft protocol had been prepared which had been considered by the officers’ Strategic Management Team which had endorsed the revised protocol for consultation with the Committee, group leaders and Members generally.
The Committee was advised that the draft protocol was clearer than the current form and it endeavoured to set out and describe the differing roles of Members and Officers. It set out the expectations that the Council would have for both Members and Officers and highlighted areas of potential difficulties. In particular it sought to address how complaints by both Members and Officers could be pursued without immediate reference to the Standards Committee or to the Council’s Chief Executive. It also addressed potential informal resolution of issues and more direct reference to line managers of officers with an ability to escalate the issue to a more Senior Officer if required.
The Committee was in favour of the draft protocol in principle and suggested some areas for improvement and agreed that following consultation with Members and Officers, the draft protocol returns to the Committee for endorsement.
Resolved: The Committee;-
- supports the draft protocol in principle;
- agrees that it would be helpful for a series of workshops between Members and Officers to be held based on the revised protocol in order that the document can be further refined; and
- agrees, that following the series of workshops, the revised protocol is submitted back to the Committee and endorsed by the Cabinet and subsequently the Council.
44 Proposed work plan for the Committee (minute 35 refers): The Committee considered a report of the Service Director – Borough Solicitor, which sought Members views on the draft work plan for the Committee.
The draft work plan covered the period from January 2010 to the end of the calendar year. It was recommended that the Committee reviewed the plan at its first meeting in the new municipal year 2010/11.
The Committee was advised that the following items should be standard for each Committee meeting:-
- case review – local cases;
- case review – relevant cases including other Councils;
- parish issues;
- training for the Committee: and
- discussion period.
The Service Director – Borough Solicitor went on to set out suggested topics that the Committee could consider at future meetings throughout the remainder of the current municipal year and the municipal year 2010/11. It was explained that the topics identified could be added to and the provisional topics could swap the proposed dates for consideration.
The Committee suggested that an additional topic of training on standards for newly Elected Members be incorporated into the work plan.
Resolved: The Committee agrees the proposed work plan for the remainder of the current municipal year and the municipal year 2010/11
45 Member training: The Committee considered a report of the Service Director – Borough Solicitor, which informed Members of the role the Standards Committee had in overseeing relevant training for Members and Officers to enable them to properly and effectively undertake their roles.
The Committee was advised that the Councillors Services Group had a key role and responsibility for leading, co-ordinating and monitoring the Council’s actions in delivering the training and development strategy. The Council was also a signatory to the North West Employers Development Charter.
In relation to training, the Committee was advised that the cycle usually started with the election of new Members and an initial induction session was made available for all Members. Upon allocation to Committee responsibilities, Departments would organise specific training for Members. The Council also had an annual programme of Members Seminars which covered changes in legislation, policy development and other matters of interest to Members.
Resolved: The Committee notes the report.
46 Parish issues: There were none.
47 Issues raised by Members: Resolved: (1) The Committee notes the cost incurred by the Council over the last four years in undertaking investigations into complaints made against Councillors of the Authority.
(2) The Committee endorses the view expressed by the Assessment Sub Committee that the release of information to the press by a complainant prior to a complaint being considered by that Sub Committee could constitute a breach of the Members’ Code of Conduct.
