Issue - meetings
ANY OTHER BUSINESS WHICH THE CHAIR CONSIDERS URGENT
Meeting: 15/09/2015 - 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:
(i) New Members on the Standards Advisory Committee
The Chair requested that officers arrange an induction training for Mr Daniel McLaughlin, newly co-opted Member of the Advisory Committee and the replacement member for Councillor Md Mufti Miah given the change in the political ratio of the Committee as a result of Councillor Md Mufti Miah’s current membership on the Council as an Independent Member).
(ii) Actions requested at the last meeting of the Advisory Committee on 14th July 2015
Item 6.4 Code of Conduct for Members - Revised Code and Complaint Handling Arrangements
· That persistent inappropriate behaviour or use of language which constituted breaches of the Members code of conduct should attract public sanctions.
Letter had been sent out by Meic Sullivan-Gould, Interim Monitoring Officer to all Members;
· That induction should be mandatory to all new Councillors including annual training for Councillors on quasi-judiciary bodies.
Training was held on 14 July 2015 attended by Councillors……(Mark could you provide names of attendants please).
· That political groups could assist their Members by offering guidance in adhering to the Council’s code of conduct, probity and the practical demonstration of life Standards in Public Life’s Seven Principles (January 2013) and the principle that Elected Persons should comply with the same standards of behaviour that they require of the staff that they employ.
Item 6.5 Members' Attendance, Timesheets and Declaration of Interests : Monitoring Report
· That the Chair write to those Councillors who were not more than three months in arrears with their timesheets, drawing their attention to the importance of timely completion;
Action Completed
Two letters signed by the Chair were sent out on 28 August 2015 by the Service Head Democratic Services. The first was to the twelve councillors most in arrears with their timesheets - sent to Councillors Suluk Ahmed, Mahbub Alam, Shah Alam, Craig Aston, Chris Chapman, Julia Dockerill, David Edgar, Peter Golds, Abjol Miah, Md. Maium Miah, Md. Ansar Mustaquim and Andrew Wood.
· That the Chair and Independent Person on the Standards Advisory Committee meet political group Leaders to discuss the timesheet process and report back on any issues raised.
Action Completed
Chair met with Councillor Peter Golds – (Designated to lead on issues on Probity & Governance). Discussed issue of Conservative Group Members completing time sheets. No response had been received as at the time of this meeting.
· Second letter sent to political group leaders, inviting them to discuss the timesheet process with Chair and Independent Person on the Standards Advisory Committee.
· Chair met with Councillor Peter Golds – (Designated to lead on issues on Probity & Governance). Discussed issue of Conservative Group Members completing time sheets and explored the possibility of Agenda Items on Overview & Scrutiny might have implications for the Standards Advisory Committee in terms of probity.
· It was agreed that the Advisory Committee receive further monitoring reports at six monthly intervals.
Action Completed
Next monitoring report due in January 2016.