Issue - meetings
ANY OTHER BUSINESS WHICH THE CHAIR CONSIDERS URGENT
Meeting: 01/03/2017 - Standards Advisory Committee (Item 4)
ANY OTHER BUSINESS WHICH THE CHAIR CONSIDERS URGENT
To consider any other unrestricted business that the Chair considers to be urgent.
Minutes:
The following matters were considered:
1. Paul Greeno Senior Lawyer provided an update on recent changes relating to probity matters:
· On 5 December 2016, Council approved the revised Code of Conduct dealing with conduct of all elected members and breaches.
· The Planning Code of Conduct was being revised. A draft for consultation would be taken to Strategic Development Committee and Development Committee in March/April 2017
· On 9th January 2017 the Council implemented its new senior officer structure comprising corporate directors (5), and divisional directors (formerly service heads). The Corporate Director for Governance would also incorporate the statutory Monitoring Officer function. This role was currently being undertaken on an interim basis by Graham White and Mark Norman was deputy monitoring officer.
· There had been a review of proportionality which revealed that the Council was under no overall political control.
· On 27 February 2017 training of Overview and Scrutiny Co-optees had taken place. This included training on ethics and probity.
· Probity training for elected members and members of Standards Advisory Committee was planned for 3rd and 24th May 2017. Details would be confirmed following consultation with the Chair.
· The Constitution Working Party had met twice and review Parts 1,2 and 3 of the Council Constitution. The revisions would be presented to Full Council in March 2017. Part 4 will be reviewed at the next meeting of the working party on 14 March 2017 at which time procedural rules would be reviewed. It was intended that the whole Constitution should be reviewed by the time of the Council Annual General Meeting in May 2017.
· A verbal update on the Whistleblowing Policy was given informing members that:
o The policy was introduce in April 2016
o 29 concerns had been raised since inception and 3 were raised in March.
o 17 of the concerns raised were adjudicated to be whistleblowing concerns and these have been referred to the service area
o Of the 12 remaining concerns, 1 has been completed, 6 are in progress and 3 have not had relevant information provided following requests. 2 concerns overlap with an investigation that has been concluded.
o Councillor Francis enquired about a referral made under the previous policy and it was agreed that an answer would be given following the meeting.
2. The Chair enquired and it was confirmed that
· the start time of meetings in the new municipal year would be 7.00pm.
· the committee would not meet during Ramadan.
3. The Chair also advised that a position for the role of co-opted member remained vacant and asked members to consider whether an appointment to this post was required.