Agenda and minutes

Standards Committee - Monday, 7th March, 2022 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 Councillors A Bennett, Bradbury, Denham St Pinnock and Eves.
2.	To consider any items that the Chairman agrees to take as urgent business Minutes: The Chairman confirmed that she had no 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: No declarations were received.
4.	To confirm the Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee held on 22 November 2021. PDF 188 KB View the background to item 4. Minutes: Dr David Horne, an Independent Person on Standards Matters, referred to Paragraph 5, P.4 of the Papers and noted that more than one Independent Persons were in attendance. He suggested changing ‘the’ to an ‘an’. The Chairman agreed the suggestion and took Members to the vote which was agreed unanimously. The Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 22 November 2021 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.
5.	Standards Committee Annual Report 2021. PDF 20 KB Additional documents: Appendix 1 - Cases Considered in 2021 , item 5. PDF 56 KB Minutes: Tom Clark, Head of Regulatory Services and Monitoring Officer, introduced the report which outlined that at its meeting in November, the Standards Committee recommended to Council the adoption of the revised LGA Code of Conduct and that 5 matters that have gone before Standards Committee Panels. He also noted that Bolney Parish Council have adopted the LGA Code of Conduct, and that West Sussex County Council now intend to adopt the LGA Code. It was also noted that training notes were received on the LGA Code of Conduct therefore he proposed a training session later in the month with Standards Members before the training is shared widely with District members and Parish Councils. The Chairman thanked the Independent Persons on Standards Matters for their contributions and for councillors who spent time considering the issues that have come forward. A Member felt that, considering the disputes happening in the public domain on social media, Parish and District Councillors have done well. He believed that the cases have been dealt sensibly and proportionately and that it is right to mention that councillors are all working for their community. An Independent Person on Standards Matters welcomed the report and the Head of Regulatory Services’ comments on offer the of training. He added that it is important for Panel Members to have training given the new Code and that West Sussex County Council adopting the Code brings harmony and consistently. He found the appendix to be helpful and said that it is great learning for Parishes and Districts. The Chairman noted that no other Member wished to speak so moved to the vote on the recommendation to comment on the Report and forward the same to Council for information which was approved unanimously. RESOLVED The Standards Committee commented on the Report and forwarded their comments onto Council for information.
6.	Questions pursuant to Council Procedure Rule 10.2 due notice of which has been given. Minutes: The Chairman confirmed she had received no questions.