Agenda and minutes
Venue: Committee Room 1, 1st Floor, Town Hall, Mulberry Place, 5 Clove Crescent, London E14 2BG
Contact: Angus Taylor, Democratic Services, Tel: 020 7364 4333 E-mail: angus.taylor@towerhamlets.gov.uk
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The order of business was changed at the meeting so that that agenda items 5-7 relating to the Exempt/Confidential business were considered ahead of agenda items 3-4. However, for ease of reference the items are set out in agenda order in these minutes.
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DECLARATIONS OF DISCLOSABLE PECUNIARY INTEREST PDF 56 KB To note any declarations of interest made by Members, including those restricting Members from voting on the questions detailed in Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act, 1992. See attached note from the Interim Monitoring Officer. Minutes: No declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests were made.
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MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING(S) PDF 92 KB To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Standards (Advisory) Committee held on 24th October 2013.
Minutes: The Chair moved and it was agreed that the minutes of the Standards Advisory Committee held on 24th October 2013 be approved, without amendment, as a correct record of proceedings and the Chair be authorised to sign them accordingly.
Action by: Zoe Folley (Committee Officer, Democratic Services, CE’s)
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REPORTS FOR CONSIDERATION |
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Covert investigation under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 PDF 74 KB Consider and comment upon the information provided in the report.
Additional documents: Minutes: The Head of Legal Services (Community) presented the report regarding the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA).
The Committee noted the new authorisation to investigate underage and illegal tobacco sales and the key dates for the surveillance work.
The Committee also noted the decision to cancel the authorisation granted regarding test purchases around Brick Lane. The authorisation was cancelled in November 2013. This was now subject to further enforcement work.
Both authorisations had been taken to court and judged as an appropriate use of the legislation. It was intended that an Annual Report regarding use of the RIPA powers would be submitted to the Committee at the end of the year with details on the outcomes.
In response, Members asked whether the issue of electoral fraud and illegal subletting of Council properties could be investigated under the legislation as Members felt that these were important areas to address. The Head of Legal Services (Community) undertook to look into use of the powers in relation to these areas and report back to the Committee. Members also asked to be provided with a map showing the location where investigations have been carried out.
In response to further questions, Officers outlined the process for investigating electoral offences. Officers highlighted the remit of the Police and the Council in such matters. The Council’s prosecution offence related to non return of canvass forms, but fraud was dealt with by the Police.
The question of whether or not covert investigation powers could be used depended on the seriousness of an offence, measured by the maximum sentence. The Returning Officer undertook to inform the Electoral ‘Silver’ Group meetings, that were already ongoing with the Police, of the matters that the Committee had raised.
Action by: John Williams (Service Head, Democratic Services, CE’s)
Resolved
That the report be noted:
Action by: David Galpin, The Head of Legal Services (Community) |
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Code of Conduct for Members - Complaints and Investigation Monitoring PDF 98 KB To note the monitoring information contained in the report.
Minutes: The Interim Monitoring Officer presented the report. He highlighted the key points in the monitoring information for this quarter. In response, Members commented on the timescale for some of the ongoing investigations and sought assurances on the process. In particular cases, IDSC/01/2013 that had been ongoing for 6 months and IDSC/07/2013. The Committee were advised of the progress with these investigations that were near completion.
Members also questioned progress with the two year long investigation (ASC/01/2012). Members were advised that the matter had been subject to an external investigation and that the Monitoring Officer had recently received the Counsels opinion on the case. Members were reassured that this investigation should be completed in advance of the May Elections in the event of any changes at that Election.
Members were also advised of the complexities and legal issues surrounding some of the investigations.
In view of the above, Members sought more information on the deadlines for completing the investigations. This needed to be made clearer in the reports. In response, the Monitoring Officer offered to provide information on this in the report. For example, he suggested that the report could specify the deadline, and the reasons for any extensions.
The Committee also noted the number of complaints from Councillors (7 out of the 9 cases) and the possible reasons for this such as greater awareness of the complaints process.
Members also commented on the perceived decline in complaints from Councillors and the possible reasons for this. Accordingly, a Member considered it helpful to carryout an analysis of complaints over a period of time to identify areas for action (possible after the May Elections).
The Chair also saw merit in collating benchmarking information on complaints under the new standards regime. The Chair considered that it might prove quite helpful to undertake such an exercise in the future.
Overall, the Committee were satisfied with the format of the information in the report.
Resolved
That the complaints and investigation monitoring information contained in the report be noted.
Action by: Mark Norman (Interim Monitoring Officer)
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Review of Member Timesheets PDF 58 KB To consider and comment on the proposed amendments to the Members’ Timesheet proforma appended to the report and any further suggestions received in response to consultation.
Additional documents:
Minutes: The Service Head Democratic Services presented the report. Members were invited to consider the proposed changes to the Members’ timesheet, as attached to the report (Appendix ‘B’), together with the current time sheet for comparison. The intention of the changes were to update the categories and terms in response to Member feedback.
The Committee noted the outcome of the consultation with the Political Groups and Independent Members on the suggested changes. (Tabled at the meeting). This feedback suggested that an additional category be added for Constituent’s Home Visits and suggested a move to a ‘tick box’ format. A example of how this could look was attached to the tabled information.
In response, some Councillors questioned the need for the amount of detail in the proposed timesheet (Appendix ‘B’) in the interest of public accountability. Councillors drew attention to the pressure on Members time in collecting the information. As a result, support was expressed for the simplified ‘tick box’ option and, where possible, for the form to be populated with automated statistics from the Council’s systems. It was suggested that this data could include statistics for Committee Meeting attendance (including the duration of meetings as well as numbers attended), Members training attendance and Members Enquiry information. Councillors would then simply complete the sections that Members alone could complete. It also should also be recognised that Councillors worked in different ways.
However, some Members expressed supported for the current level of detail in the timesheets (as revised in Appendix B) in the interests of transparency. As a result, some considered that the detailed categories should be maintained with the addition of the automated data, where possible.
A Councillor also questioned the value of the timesheet for comparison purposes (against other Councillors) given the lack of information on the Councillors circumstances, such as their employment status, that could affect the amount of time they could devote to duties.
A Councillor also asked about the level of public interest in the timesheets and how many people viewed the timesheets on line.
In conclusion, it was agreed that, for the time being, that the proposed revised timesheet (Appendix ‘B’) be introduced with the longer term aim of introducing an on-line system with automated information from the Council’s systems where possible. The Committee reaffirmed the importance of timesheets and their timely submission.
Resolved
1. That the proposed amendments to the Members’ Timesheet proforma as attached at Appendix ‘B’ be supported and introduced.
2. That in the slightly longer term, officers progress the introduction of online Member timesheets with the capacity to populate information (such as Meeting attendance, details of Members Enquires) where possible.
Action by: John Williams, Service Head Democratic Services.
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ANY OTHER BUSINESS WHICH THE CHAIR CONSIDERS URGENT To consider any other unrestricted business that the Chair considers to be urgent.
Minutes: Nil items
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EXCLUSION OF THE PRESS AND PUBLIC 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.”
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.
Minutes: The Committee Resolved that the press and public be excluded from the meeting during the discussion of item 6 on the grounds that the minutes contained information classified as exempt under the provisions of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, Paragraph 3.
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EXEMPT/CONFIDENTIAL MINUTES To confirm as a correct record the Exempt/Confidential minutes of the meeting of the Standards (Advisory) Committee held on 24th October 2013.
Minutes: The Chair moved and it was agreed that the exempt/confidential minutes of the Standards Advisory Committee held on 24th October 2013 be approved, without amendment, as a correct record of proceedings and the Chair be authorised to sign them accordingly.
Action by: Zoe Folley (Committee Officer, Democratic Services, CE’s)
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ANY OTHER EXEMPT/CONFIDENTIAL BUSINESS THAT THE CHAIR CONSIDERS URGENT To consider any other exempt/ confidential business that the Chair considers to be urgent.
Minutes: Nil items
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