To elect a Chair for the municipal year from amongst the Co-opted Members as prescribed in the terms of reference for Standards (Advisory) Committee.

Co-optee Nafisa Adam nominated and Councillor Candida Ronald seconded that Co-optee John Pulford be appointed Chair of Standards (Advisory) Committee for the duration of the municipal year.  There being no other nominations, it was

RESOLVED

That Co-optee John Pulford be appointed Chair of Standards (Advisory) Committee for the duration of the municipal year.

To appoint a Vice-Chair for the municipal year from amongst the Co-opted Members as prescribed in the terms of reference for Standards (Advisory) Committee.

Councillor Candida Ronald nominated and Co-optee Mike Houston seconded that Co-optee Nafisa Adam be appointed Vice-Chair of Standards (Advisory) Committee for the duration of the municipal year.  There being no other nominations, it was

RESOLVED

That Co-optee Nafisa Adam be appointed Vice-Chair of Standards (Advisory) Committee for the duration of the municipal year.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Standards (Advisory) Committee held on 15 March 2016.

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the meeting held on 15^th March 2016 be approved as a correct record of proceedings.

The clerk introduced the report which informed members of the powers and framework of the Committee as set out in the Council’s Constitution.

RESOLVED

1.       That the Terms of Reference, Membership, Quorum, Dates of future meetings and timing thereof, as set out in Appendices 1, 2 and 3 to this report be noted.

2        That the following sub-committees be established for the municipal year 2016/17, to be convened as required on an ad hoc basis with membership agreed by the Monitoring Officer from amongst the members of the Standards(Advisory) Committee (SAC), including in each case a minimum of three members:-

·       Investigation and Disciplinary Sub-Committee

·       Hearing Sub-Committee

·       Dispensations Sub-Committee

Consider and comment upon the information provided in the report.

The Interim Service Head, Legal Services, introduced the report which provided an update on covert surveillance activity undertaken by the Council under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) in the previous three quarterly periods.

The following were noted:

·       The Councils policies on the use of forms of covert surveillance were approved in 2012 and have now been reviewed.  These will be submitted for approval by Cabinet in autumn 2016.

·       One application in each quarter, Q3 2015/16 and Q4 2015/16 were made by the Council under this legislation to investigate illegal tobacco sale and fraudulent social housing claim respectively.  No applications were made in Q1 2016/17.

·       Following a change to the initial regulations relating to RIPA, applications for surveillance under these powers must be authorised by a magistrate.

·       Fireworks regulations require that category 2 and 3 fireworks can only be purchased by an adult and therefore the powers under RIPA may be applied if necessary.

RESOLVED

That information provided on the use of covert surveillance powers and the comments of the Committee be noted

To consider any other unrestricted business that the Chair considers to be urgent.

Concerning Minute 3.3 of the meeting held on March 2016 (Timesheets), the Chair enquired whether Governance Review Working Group (GRWG) had indicated a timescale for responding to the referral of this matter to the Group.  Members were advised that the referral had been noted but no timescales had been advised since GRWG had reviewed its Forward Plan and determined that matters relating to the fulfilment of Secretary of State’s Directions and completion of the Best Value Action Plan arising from this should be the focus of the work plan at this time.  The Committee noted the response and discussed the advantages and disadvantages of maintaining a timesheet requirement for Elected Members.

RESOLVED

That the discussion be noted.