Issue - meetings

The Monitoring Officer submitted a report outlining changes to the councillors’ standard regime detailed in the Localism Bill.

The Monitoring Officer invited the Committee to formulate its views on the proposed changes, particularly with regard to a non statutory code; the investigation of complaints and the future of Independent Members.

The Committee agreed to make recommendations detailed below on this matter.

RECOMMENDED – that subject to review should there be any significant changes to the Localism Bill upon enactment:

(A)     Council opt for a voluntary code of conduct for Members;

(B)           the Standards Committee be asked:

(1)     to draft such a code (as referred to in (A) above) based on a revision of the current statutory code and to advise on any necessary consequential changes to other codes and protocols, and

(2)     to propose a scheme for handling complaints concerning Members’ conduct, having regard for the need to respond to such complaints equitably and expeditiously and without any unnecessary expense or calls on other resources, and

(C)    the Monitoring Officer be instructed to write to the clerk of each of the District’s parish and town councils to ensure that each one is aware of its probable new responsibilities and inviting co-operation in the preparation and adoption of a common code and machinery for its implementation.