Venue: Committee Room 1, City Hall. View directions
Contact: Charlie Mason, Democratic Services Officer (01522 873533)
No. | Item |
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Confirmation of Minutes - 1 October 2013 Minutes: RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 1 October 2013 be confirmed. |
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Declarations of Interest Please note that, in accordance with the Members' Code of Conduct, when declaring interests members must disclose the existence and nature of the interest, and whether it is a disclosable pecuniary interest (DPI) or personal and/or pecuniary. Minutes: Councillor Ronald Hills declared a Personal interest in minute no. 30. He was a member of the Planning Committee and could therefore be affected by the dispensation being considered. |
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Code of Conduct: Cases Review Minutes: The Assistant Director of Legal and Corporate Support Services:
a) presented a report containing information on recent cases relating to other local authorities' codes of conduct.
b) highlighted that members should identify any issues raised within the report as being relevant for further consideration with regard to their impact upon members.
c) drew members’ attention to the case involving a judicial review which would consider the compatibility of the new standards regime with the European Convention on Human Rights.
d) invited members' questions and comments.
Members:
The Independent Person summarised his understanding of the case involving human rights based upon recently-undertaken training as part of his role.
RESOLVED that the report be noted. |
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Planning Committee Dispensation
Minutes: The Assistant Director of Legal and Corporate Support Services:
a) presented a report regarding an application which was likely to be considered by the Planning Committee in the near future.
b) advised that a number of Planning Committee members were likely to have a personal and pecuniary interest in the applicants owing to their involvement in the civic process.
c) requested that the Committee determine whether it would be appropriate to grant a dispensation which would allow members of the Planning Committee to take part in consideration of the item if they would otherwise have had an interest which would have precluded them from doing so.
d) invited members' questions and comments.
The Reserve Independent Person confirmed that the Planning Committee decision would be taken solely by the Planning Committee rather than by Council.
RESOLVED that a dispensation for all members and substitute members of the Planning Committee for a period of one year in relation to planning applications for a tank memorial on Tritton Road be agreed. |
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Lobbying and Corruption in Local Government Reports Additional documents: Minutes: The Assistant Director of Legal and Corporate Support Services:
a) presented a report summarising the contents of two studies recently published by bodies with an interest in the operation of the local government standards regime at a national level.
b) highlighted the areas of the studies which were specifically relevant to local government and the new standards regime.
c) noted the particular relevance of the report produced by Transparency International, the conclusions of which were considered to be valid if overly pessimistic.
d) drew to members’ attention the possibility of providing additional guidance to councillors regarding lobbying.
e) invited members' questions and comments.
Members:
The Assistant Director of Legal and Corporate Support Services advised that while the Council’s Member Code of Conduct set a minimum value for declarations of gifts and hospitality, there was no such provision within the Localism Act 2011.
RESOLVED that:
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Local Democracy Week Review Minutes: The Democratic Services Officer:
a) presented a report regarding Local Democracy Week.
b) highlighted the Council’s involvement in Local Democracy Week 2013, advising that the focal point for the week had been a live interactive online session between the Leader and young people.
c) noted the Council’s plans for involvement in Local Democracy Week 2014, while also continuing to engage with young people throughout the year.
d) invited members’ questions and comments.
The Chair noted that he and officers were seeking to make contact with local schools to arrange further member-student panels; these were being arranged with a view to staggering a manageable roll-out across the city.
RESOLVED that the report be noted. |
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Minutes: The Democratic Services Officer:
a) presented a report which gave details of the Council’s succession planning for elected members.
b) highlighted the overlap between experienced members passing on their knowledge and skills, and the need for the Council to provide development opportunities for less experienced councillors.
c) drew members’ attention to potential programmes for ‘buddying’ and ‘shadowing’ with new and less experienced councillors, who could benefit from one-to-one guidance from appropriate persons.
d) noted the need for any suggestions for development opportunities to take account of the limited financial resources available.
e) invited members' questions and comments.
Members:
RESOLVED that:
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Work Programme Update Additional documents: Minutes: The Democratic Services Officer:
a) presented the current Ethics and Engagement Committee work programme for consideration by members.
b)
highlighted the forthcoming item on the
work programme regarding increasing the diversity of electoral
candidates and requested members’ guidance on the focus for
any discussion. c) invited members' questions and comments.
Members:
The Reserve Independent Person stressed the role elected members had to play in providing direction to officers in this area and the need for feedback from councillors as to how they would like be involved in any processes.
RESOLVED that the work programme be approved. |