Agenda and draft minutes

To appoint a Chairman for this meeting.

It was proposed by Councillor P Boylan and seconded by Councillor T Stowe that Councillor B Deering be appointed Chairman of the Standards Sub-Committee for the meeting.

RESOLVED – that Councillor B Deering be appointed Chairman of the Standards Sub-Committee for the meeting.

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 30 January 2019

In response to a number of comments and concerns in respect of the minutes from former Ware Town Councillor J Taylor and Mr and Mrs Standley, the Chairman reminded all present that the formal minutes of meetings were not and had never been intended to be a transcript of proceedings.

Councillor P Boylan proposed and Councillor T Stowe seconded, a motion that the Minutes of the meeting held on 30 January 2019 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman, subject to the addition of the name Jill Rowlinson to the list of attendees present at the meeting.  After being put to the meeting and a vote taken, this motion was declared CARRIED.

RESOLVED – that the Minutes of the meeting held on 30 January 2019, be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman, subject to the addition of the name Jill Rowlinson to the list of attendees present at the meeting.

The Monitoring Officer submitted a report inviting the Standards Sub-Committee to deliver their decision on the complaint regarding former Ware Town Councillor Jeanette Taylor in accordance with paragraph 7.1.2 of the East Herts Council Councillor’s Complaints Procedure.

The Chairman reminded those present that the Sub-Committee had adjourned the meeting on 30 January 2019 as Members had insufficient time to reach a decision given the time that the hearing closed and the requirement to give full consideration to the item.

The Chairman stated that, following a meeting of the Standards Sub-Committee on 30 January 2019, this meeting was for the Sub-Committee to present its decision as to whether there had been a breach of the Ware Town Council’s Code of Conduct by the former Ware Town Councillor Jeanette Taylor.

The Chairman reminded everyone present that this was about Standards and the case was not about the circumstances that had led to this complaint or matters of that nature.  The Sub-Committee was simply here to decide and give reasons as to whether there had been a breach of the Ware Town Council Code of Conduct.

The Chairman summarised the complaint that had been made to the Interim Monitoring Officer on 9 August 2016.  He detailed the allegations that had been made about the former Ware Town Councillor Jeanette Taylor.  The Chairman referred to the independent investigation that had been undertaken following the submission of the complaint and he reminded those present of the pre hearing that had taken place on 12 October 2018 and the more recent Sub-Committee meeting on 30 January 2019.

The Chairman stated that the request for an adjournment on 30 January 2019 had been considered and refused.  The Chairman reminded those present that the hearing on 30 January 2019 had been held in private as the Sub-Committee had resolved to exclude the press and public.  The Chairman summarised what had taken place throughout the hearing which had been conducted in line with the East Herts Council Councillor’s Complaints Procedure.

The Chairman commented at length in respect of the status of the complainant and emphasised that the complaint had not been made on behalf of Ware Town Council but related to what the complainant alleged that she had experienced personally.  The question for determination was whether the conduct of former Ware Town Councillor Jeanette Taylor had fallen below the prescribed standards of Ware Town Council’s Code of Conduct.

The Chairman summarised the matters that related to whether former Ware Town Councillor Jeanette Taylor had been acting in her official capacity or as a private individual.  He referred in detail, to the appearance and submissions of witnesses and commented briefly on the financial aspect of the complaint.  He also emphasised that there had been no pre-determination on the part of the Sub-Committee.  The Chairman on behalf of Members’ thanked the Independent Person for his ongoing counsel.

The Chairman referred to the “Nolan Principles” and commented that the standards imposed upon Members by the Ware Town Council Code of Conduct might  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.