To update the committee on the progress of the recruitment of independent persons for standards.

The monitoring officer presented the report.

There were seven applicants and the monitoring officer requested agreement as to the next steps.  

Following clarification, a member of the committee suggested that all applicants were interviewed. 

It was confirmed that:

·         Currently there was no remuneration for independents persons, and was advertised on this basis.

·         Independent persons were insured and indemnified for any views which they expressed.   This indemnification was retrospective to the introduction of the Localism Act 2011.  

It was agreed that as part of the next report on the recruitment of independent persons, there would be information on what other councils do with respect to remuneration of independent persons.

It was agreed that all applicants would be interviewed and that the previous candidates would be re-interviewed.    The monitoring officer would prepare and circulate draft questions for comments to all committee members and the independent person.  

The following members of the committee volunteered to sit on the interview panel:

Councillor ACR Chappell

Councillor EPJ Harvey

Councillor PD Newman, OBE

It was noted that the interview date would be 12 December and that a report would be presented to the January committee meeting. 

RESOLVED

That the report be noted