To welcome Councillor John Stone, Vice Chairman of the Council, to the Committee.

On behalf of the Committee the Chairman extended a warm welcome to Councillor John Stone to his first meeting.

To receive apologies for absence.

An apology for absence was submitted on behalf of Councillor John Hardwick. 

To receive any declarations of interest by Members in respect of items on the Agenda.

There were no declarations of interest. 

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 1st April, 2005

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 17th June 2005. 

To consider applications for dispensations received from Bartestree with Lugwardine Group Parish Council and from Mathon Parish Council, and any additional applications received prior to the meeting.

Wards: County-wide

The Committee considered the report of the County Secretary and Solicitor on applications for dispensations from Bartestree with Lugwardine Group Parish Council and from Mathon Parish Council.  Bartestree with Lugwardine Group Parish Council had requested a dispensation for Councillor N. Alexander in replacement of former Councillor T. Rowberry as a Trustees for Bartestree Village Hall, a registered charity.  Mathon Parish Council had submitted a request for Councillors S Harte, S Thetford, R Thomas and N Walker to be granted dispensation because they serve as Trustees on Mathon Village Hall Management Committee, a registered charity. In the case of both applications, the requests fulfilled the criteria for a dispensation to be granted and were accepted by the Committee.

RESOLVED (unanimously) That                     the above Councillors from Bartestree with Lugwardine Group Parish Council and from Dinedor Parish Council be granted dispensations as requested.

To consider a revised protocol to guide Members in their use of Council resources. 

TO FOLLOW

Wards: County-wide

The Committee gave further consideration to the Draft Protocol on the use of Council resources by Members.  The Chairman said that it had been made as user friendly as possible but at the same time was aimed at offering sound guidance for Members.  Reference to ICT issues had been deleted because this area was already covered by other Council guidance.

Some minor amendments were made to the Draft Protocol and it was agreed that the Committee should be given the opportunity to propose any final amendments during the next few days before the views of other Members were sought.

RESOLVED: (unanimously) that the Draft Protocol be subject to any further amendment from Members of the Committee, following which the views of Councillor Mrs J French, Cabinet Member (Corporate and Customer Services and Human Resources) and thereafter all Members be sought, prior to it being submitted to Council. 

To seek the Committee’s views on a proposed review of the roles and responsibilities of Members.

Wards: County-wide

The Committee considered the report of the County Secretary and Solicitor about a possible review of the roles and responsibilities of Members.  It was noted that the current Corporate Performance Assessment (CPA) would be gathering evidence that the roles and responsibilities of Officers and Members for taking decisions were clear and that the decision making process was transparent and resulted in relevant actions.  The Committee felt that this was an area that could be reviewed in the future if the Council introduced any changes but did not feel that it was a matter for the Committee it should initiate. 

The County Secretary and Solicitor said that it was likely that the Committee would be examined as part of the CPA and the Chairman commented that it was essential that he met the assessors.

RESOLVED: (unanimously) that the report be received and noted and that the matter be earmarked for future consideration after the views of the Group Leaders and the Corporate Review Working Group were known.

To consider the Annual Report for 2004/2005

TO FOLLOW

Wards: County-wide

Consideration was given to the contents of the Annual Report of the Committee for 2004/2005

RESOLVED: (unanimously) that subject to some minor amendments the Annual Report 2004/2005 be approved for publication.

A COPY OF THE ANNUAL REPORT IS ATTACHED

RESOLVED: (unanimously) that under section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public and press be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involved the likely disclosure of information relating to the financial or business affairs of a particular person (other than the Authority)

To update the Committee about determinations by the Standards Board for England in 2004/2005 concerning the County.

This item discloses information relating to the financial or business affairs of a particular person (other than the Authority).

The Committee considered a report on the current investigations by the Standards Board for England (SBE) in respect of complaints of alleged misconduct against certain councillors.  It was noted that the number of cases outstanding had reduced significantly and that the SBE was making excellent progress in dealing with the backlog.  The County Secretary and Solicitor said that she would provide the Committee with the details of case reference No. 11076.05 which the SBE had decided did not require investigation. 

RESOLVED (unanimously) that the report be noted. 

To consider the attached report about a case referred to the Council by the Standards Board for England.

TO FOLLOW

Wards: County-wide

The County Secretary and Solicitor said that the Standards Board for England had referred two complaints against local councillors to the Council for investigation.  The investigating officers were in the process of finalising their review of the complaints before preparing their reports for consideration by the Committee.  Because of the timescales involved, the Committee agreed that a special meeting should be held to consider the findings, followed by a hearing if it was considered to be necessary.

RESOLVED: (unanimously) that a special meeting of the Committee be held on Friday 8th July and if necessary a hearing on 26th July to consider the above cases.