Agenda and minutes
Venue: Committee Room 1, 1st Floor, Town Hall, Mulberry Place, 5 Clove Crescent, London E14 2BG
Contact: Antonella Burgio, Democratic Services, Tel: 020 7364 4881 E-mail: antonella.burgio@towerhamlets.gov.uk
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DECLARATIONS OF DISCLOSABLE PECUNIARY INTEREST PDF 68 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 Monitoring Officer. Minutes: There were no declarations of interest. |
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MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING(S) PDF 80 KB To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Standards (Advisory) Committee held on 28 July 2016.
Minutes: RESOLVED
That the minutes of the meeting held on 28th July 2016 be approved as a correct record of proceedings.
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REPORTS FOR CONSIDERATION |
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Recruitment of Reserve Independent Person and Independent Co-opted Members PDF 82 KB Minutes: Mark Norman, Legal Adviser informed the Committee that:
Responding to Members’ questions, the Legal Adviser also informed Members:
RESOLVED
That the content of the report be noted.
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Code of Conduct for Members - Complaints and Investigation Monitoring PDF 84 KB Minutes: Mark Norman, Legal Adviser informed the Committee that of the complaints reported at appendix 1:
Responding to Members’ questions, the Legal Adviser also informed Members that monitoring information was last reported to the Advisory Committee in March 2016. At that time all complaints had been dealt with and closed with the exception of one matter which had been subject to external investigation.
RESOLVED
That the complaints and investigation monitoring information contained in Appendix 1 to the report be noted.
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Additional documents:
Minutes: Mark Norman, Legal Adviser informed the Committee that:
Members considered the following: · Changes to the general principles of conduct to bring them up to date in terms of legislative context and current terminology. - The Committee did not raise any issues on this proposal. · Greater clarity of the requirements to register and declare statutory disclosable pecuniary interests and other interests. – The Committee broadly supported this proposal. · A potential increase in the current value (£25) requiring the registration of gifts and/or hospitality. - The Committee considered that, for better transparency, the value should remain unchanged. · Providing greater autonomy for the Monitoring Officer to reject complaints at the initial stage (whilst retaining the ability to seek a view from the Investigation and Disciplinary Sub-Committee in more complex cases). - The Committee did not raise any issues on this proposal. · Creating defined criteria on which the Monitoring Officer may reject complaints. - The Committee did not raise any issues on this proposal. · Introducing a requirement for the Monitoring Officer to provide reasons for any rejection at the initial stage to the complainant (and include this in quarterly monitoring information provided to the Standards (Advisory) Committee). - The Committee did not raise any issues on this proposal. · Introducing greater flexibility to seek local resolution of complaints at all stages of the process. - The Committee did not raise any issues on this proposal. · Reducing the role of full Council to determine hearings and impose sanctions with a proposal that the Hearings Sub-Committee is decision making as to whether a breach has occurred but a requirement for full Council or the Mayor (as appropriate) to agree more serious sanctions such as removal of a Member from a Council Committee or the Executive. - The Committee did not raise any issues on this proposal. · Abolishing the Hearings (Appeals) Sub-Committee. - The Committee supported this proposal since this function had never been exercised.
Responding to Members’ questions, the Legal Adviser also informed Members:
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Update on the Council's Whistleblowing Arrangements PDF 332 KB Minutes: Paul Greeno, Senior Corporate and Governance Lawyer presented the update report informing the Committee that:
Responding to Members’ questions, the Senior Lawyer also informed Members:
RESOLVED
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Proposed Revised Licensing Code of Conduct PDF 372 KB Minutes: Paul Greeno, Senior Corporate and Governance Lawyer presented the report which brought up to date the Code of Conduct relating to the Council’s licensing functions.
Responding to Members’ comments and questions, the Senior Lawyer also informed Members:
Action by: David Tolley, Head of Trading Standards and Commercial Services
RESOLVED
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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. |