Members are reminded to consider the categories of interest in the Code of Conduct for Members to determine whether they have an interest in any agenda item and any action they should take. For further details, please see the attached note from the Monitoring Officer.

Members are reminded to declare the nature of the interest and the agenda item it relates to. Please note that ultimately it’s the Members’ responsibility to declare any interests and to update their register of interest form as required by the Code.

If in doubt as to the nature of your interest, you are advised to seek advice prior to the meeting by contacting the Monitoring Officer or Democratic Services

To elect a Chair of the Committee from amongst the Co-opted Members for the 2023-24 municipal year.

Joel West, Democratic Services Team Leader (Committee), requested nominations for the position of Chair of the Standards Advisory Committee from amongst the Co-opted Members for the municipal year 2023/2024. Fiona Browne proposed John Pulford for the position. This was seconded by Councillor Amin Rahman.

There were no further nominations.

The Standards Advisory Committee;

RESOLVED

1. That John Pulford was elected as Chair of the Standards Advisory Committee for the municipal year 2023-24.

To elect a Vice-Chair of the Committee from amongst the Co-opted Members for the 2023-24 municipal year.

The Chair requested nominations for the position of Vice-Chair of the Standards Advisory Committee from amongst the Co-opted Members for the municipal year 2023/2024 and proposed Fiona Browne for the position. This was seconded by Councillor Abu Talha Choudhury.

There were no further nominations.

The Standards Advisory Committee;

RESOLVED

1. That Fiona Browne was elected as Vice-Chair of the Standards Advisory Committee for the municipal year 2023-24.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Standards Advisory Committee held on 18 April 2023.

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the meeting held on 18 April 2024  be approved as a correct record of proceedings.

Joel West, Democratic Services Team Leader (Committees) introduced the report that sets out, for noting, the Advisory Committee’s Terms of Reference, Quorum, Membership and Dates of Meetings for the year and asked it to approve the establishment of its Sub-Committees to consider complaints relating to breaches of the Member Code of Conduct. Joel advised of a minor error in the report: references to meeting start time should read 6.30pm.

Further to questions from members, officers advised that the terms of reference (Appendix 1 to the report) would be reviewed to consider whether explicit reference should be made to the Advisory Committee’s role “To monitor and review Member and Officer Procedures for registering interests and declaring gifts and hospitality” as included in its rules of procedure (Appendix 4 to the report).

RESOLVED that the Advisory Committee:

1.    Notes its Terms of Reference, Quorum, Membership and dates/times of meetings as set out in Appendices 1, 2 and 3 to the report.

2.    Agrees to establish the following sub-committees for the municipal year 2023/24, to be convened as required on an ad-hoc basis with membership drawn from amongst the Members of the Standards Advisory Committee, including in each case a minimum of three members:-

·         Investigation and Disciplinary Sub-Committee

·         Hearings Sub-Committee.

Matthew Mannion, Head of Democratic Services introduced the report that provided an update on Member and Co-optee attendance at formal Council and Committee meetings.

Further to discussion on member attendance the Advisory Committee asked that:

·         Officers explore whether an attendance requirement or expectation can be included the Code of Conduct for Members.

·         A note to be sent to group whips flagging members where attendance is below 50%

·         Terms of reference and similar annual administrative reports to each committee include a paragraph on expectations for attendance.

RESOLVED that the Advisory Committee:

1.    Notes the report.

Patricia Attawia, Democratic Services Team Leader (Civic and Members) introduced the report that updated the Committee on the Members’ Register of Interests and declarations of gifts and hospitality submitted by Members.

Further to questions from members, Patricia and Matthew Mannion, Head of Democratic Services:

·         Explained the difference between related party transactions and declarations of gifts and hospitality. The former came under the scope of the Council’s Audit Committee.

·         Advised that many Iftar invitations were likely accepted in this period, but the nature of such events was such that the value of anything received would have been below the £25 declaration threshold. Members of the Advisory Committee confirmed this, noting that Iftar events were ‘cheap and cheerful’.

·         Asked the Advisory Committee to note that regular reminders are sent to Members of the Council asking them to declare gifts and hospitality, including during Ramadan and that the next regular six-month check up on every Member’s Register of Interests was taking place in July.

RESOLVED that the Advisory Committee:

1.    Notes the report.

Janet Fasan, Director Legal and Monitoring Officer introduced the report that

informed the Advisory Committee of dispensations in relation to disclosable pecuniary interests (DPI’s) under section 33 of the Localism Act 2011. Janet noted there had been no dispensations issued since the previous report to the Advisory Committee.

RESOLVED that the Advisory Committee:

1.    Notes the report.

Janet Fasan, Director Legal and Monitoring Officer introduced the report that, following earlier consideration and consultation with the Chair and the Vice Chair of the Standards Advisory Committee, proposed a draft updated Member Officer protocol for views and comment. Janet explained that substantial amendments had been made to the protocol since earlier iterations which address concerns and suggestions previously raised by the Advisory Committee.

Further to questions from members, Janet explained that the code applied to all officers, including political assistants and Mayors Office staff.

Further to questions, the Advisory Committee:

• asked that the words “specific named” be removed from the ‘as a member’ part of section 5 of the draft protocol;
• welcomed the revised formatting and appearance of the draft, which members felt was much improved from previous versions; and
• asked that the final draft be shared with Advisory Committee members prior to its submission to full Council for approval. 

RESOLVED that the Advisory Committee:

1.      Noted the draft updated Member /Officer Protocol subject to the comments as above.

2.      Authorised the Monitoring Office in consultation with the Chair of the Advisory Committee to make any changes to the protocol to give effect to the comments above.

3.      Authorised the Monitoring Officer in consultation with the Chair of the Advisory Committee to make any further changes deemed necessary before submission to Council/Committee for Member agreement as required.

RESOLVED

1.    That the work plan is noted.

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

Janet provided the Advisory Committee with an update on the recruitment of the vacant co-optee position. Following the most recent round of recruitment, three applications were received of which only one was considered suitable. The advert will be re-run, including in publications which targeted the local community. The Council’s SPP team would be asked to publicise amongst community groups to increase diversity of the applicant pool.

In view of the contents of the remaining items on the agenda the Committee is recommended to adopt the following motion:

“That, under the provisions of Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985, the press and public be excluded from the remainder of the meeting for the consideration of the Section Two business on the grounds that it contains information defined as Exempt in Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act, 1972.”

NOTE: EXEMPT/CONFIDENTIAL SECTION (Pink Papers)

The exempt committee papers in the agenda will contain information, which is commercially, legally or personally sensitive and should not be divulged to third parties.  If you do not wish to retain these papers after the meeting, please hand them to the Committee Officer present.

A resolution to exclude the press and public was not required.

None.