Agenda and minutes

Standards Committee - Monday, 22nd November, 2021 6.00 pm

Venue: Council Chamber

Contact: Email: committees@midsussex.gov.uk

Items
No.	Item
1.	To receive apologies for absence. View the background to item 1. Minutes: Apologies were received from Councillor Eves, Councillor Douglas Denham St Pinnock, Parish Councillor Baron Von Thunderclap and Mr Paul Cummins.
2.	To consider any items that the Chairman agrees to take as urgent business. Minutes: The Chairman confirmed that she did not have any urgent business.
3.	To receive Declaration of Interests from Members in respect of any matter on the Agenda. View the background to item 3. Minutes: Cllr Bradbury declared a personal interest in Item 5: Further Report to Standards Committee on the LGA Code of Conduct as he is the Chairman of West Sussex County Council and of West Sussex County Council’s Standards Committee.
4.	To confirm the Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee held on 7 June 2021. PDF 194 KB View the background to item 4. Minutes: The Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 7 June 2021 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.
5.	Further Report to Standards Committee on the LGA Code of Conduct. PDF 68 KB Additional documents: LGA Code of Conduct , item 5. PDF 733 KB WSCC Code of Conduct , item 5. PDF 525 KB LGA Code of Conduct Guidance , item 5. PDF 2 MB Minutes: Tom Clark, Head of Regulatory Services, introduced the report which noted that the Committee considered the recommended Code of Conduct by the Local Government Association (LGA) for Councils in January 2021. He confirmed that Code put before the Committee has since been updated and that both the revised Code and LGA guidance are appendices in the papers. He highlighted that the many authorities have adopted the LGA’s Code of Conduct which would if agreed make Mid Sussex District Council consistent with other authorities across the county. The Vice-Chairman supported moving to the LGA’s Code of Conduct as it provides a number of benefits in case anything changes. A Member stated he was happy to follow the Head of Regulatory Services’ suggestion but asked for the differences of the LGA Code of Conduct and the West Sussex County Council’s (WSCC) Code of Conduct to be highlighted. The Head of Regulatory Services explained that there is no material difference between the two Codes however the LGA Code will be the same across many Councils whereas WSCC’s Code of Conduct is unique to West Sussex. The Independent Person on Standards Matters stated that the extensive guidance in the committee papers is very useful and noted the absence of such in WSCC’s Code. The Chairman noted that no Member wished to speak so moved to the recommendation to advise Council at Mid Sussex and the Town and Parish Councils in the Mid Sussex District area to adopt the LGA Model Code of Conduct which was approved unanimously. RESOLVED The Standards Committee advised Mid Sussex District Council and the Town and Parish Councils in the Mid Sussex District area to adopt the LGA Model Code of Conduct.
6.	Questions pursuant to Council Procedure Rule 10.2 due notice of which has been given. Minutes: None.