To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillor John Edwards. 

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

Robert Rogers declared a prejudicial interest in Agenda Items 3 (CASE SUMMARY – COUNCILLOR ALLAN LLOYD OF KINGTON TOWN COUNCIL), and 4 (HEARING INTO REPORT OF AN INVESTIGATION UNDER SECTION 66 AND SECTION 82 OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 2000 AS AMENDED), and left the meeting for the duration of these items.  

To receive a summary of the case. 

The Committee received a case summary in respect of Councillor Allan Lloyd of Kington Town Council. 

To consider an investigation under Section 66 and 82A of the Local Government Act 2000 by Kevin O’Keefe, Acting Monitoring Officer, into an allegation concerning Councillor Allan Lloyd, a member of Kington Town Council, with supporting documents [documents enclosed separately]

Note - In the opinion of the Proper Officer, it may be necessary to exclude the public and the press for part of the above item at the time it is considered if it becomes necessary to disclose information relating to the financial or business affairs of a particular person (other than the Council).  If this becomes necessary, the Committee will be recommended under Section 100(a)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 to exclude the public from that part of the meeting on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Schedule 12(a) of the Act and confidential information as defined in the Local Authorities (Code of Conduct) (Local Determination) Regulations 2003 and 2004.

The Committee considered details of an investigation into an allegation against Councillor Allan Lloyd under Sections 66 and 82A of the Local Government Act 2000 as amended.  The investigation had been carried out by Kevin O’Keefe, Legal Practice Manager of Herefordshire Council. 

Having considered the written evidence put forward and all the evidence presented to it at the hearing, the Committee made its decision which is summarised in the following Decision Notice:

We have carefully considered the evidence and submissions presented before us today.  We find that on 15 August 2005, Councillor Allan Lloyd breached paragraph 10 of the Town Council’s Code of Conduct which requires that a Councillor with a prejudicial interest in a matter who attends a meeting of the council at which the matter is considered must (a) withdraw from the room or chamber where a meeting is being held whenever it becomes apparent that the matter is being considered at the meeting, unless he has obtained a dispensation from the Standards Committee of the responsible authority; and (b) not seek improperly to influence a decision about that matter.

We have accepted Councillor Lloyd’s public apology and take note of the very strong mitigating circumstances presented to us. 

In these circumstances we do not impose any penalty.

In light of the fact that Councillor Lloyd has recently undergone relevant training, we feel that no further recommendation is required. 

Our Decision Notice will be made available today and will be posted on the Herefordshire Council’s website.  Our full decision will be published as soon as possible.

David Stevens

Standards Committee

Herefordshire Council

Brockington

35 Hafod Road, Hereford

Date: 10 March 2006

Ref: MR/CSS/SBE0502

The attached document relates to this hearing, and outlines the decision made by the Adjudication Panel for England.