Agenda and minutes
Venue: Room MP702, 7th 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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APPOINTMENT OF CHAIR Councillor Ahmed nominated and Councillor Ronald seconded that Mr Pulford be appointed Chair of Standards Advisory Committee for the duration of the municipal year. There being no other nominations, it was
RESOLVED That Mr Pulford be appointed Chair of the Standards Advisory Committee for the duration of the municipal year.
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INFORMATION SHARE 1. Mr Pulford informed the Committee that in accordance with custom and practice, it was proposed that his appointment as a co-opted member of the Committee be extended to a second term subject to approval of performance. This proposal would be put to Council at its next meeting.
2. The scheduled ethics and probity training in May 2017 did not take place due to the snap general election.
3. The Chair introduced Matthew Kane of N E Lincolnshire Council who was in attendance to observe the meeting in conjunction with his studies.
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VARY ORDER OF BUSINESS During the meeting some Members requested that the order of business be varied to enable the discussion of items of interest to be discussed earlier in the meeting. The Chair agreed as this would enable fuller discussion of pertinent matters.
RESOLVED
That the order of business be varied and business items of the meeting be discussed in the following order: · Items 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.6 and 4.5
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APPOINTMENT OF VICE-CHAIR To appoint a Vice-Chair for the duration of the municipal year. Minutes: Councillor Ronald nominated and Councillor Francis seconded that Ms Adam be appointed Vice-Chair of the Standards Advisory Committee for the duration of the municipal year.
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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: Mr Pulford declared an interest in respect of agenda item 4.5 in that he was Chair of the Council's Conservation and Design Advisory Panel.
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MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING(S) PDF 91 KB To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Standards (Advisory) Committee held on 1 March 2017.
Minutes: RESOLVED
That the minutes of the meeting held on 1st March2017 be approved as a correct record of proceedings subject to the correction of the following typographical error at page 8, that ‘introduce’ be corrected to ‘introduced’.
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REPORTS FOR CONSIDERATION |
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Additional documents:
Minutes: The Committee noted the contents of the report and agreed the recommendations.
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 2017/18, 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
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Code of Conduct for Members - Complaints and Investigation Monitoring To receive a verbal update.
Minutes: The Committee received a verbal update from the Acting Corporate Director of Governance. Members were informed that there were two ongoing matters presently under confidential investigation. No charges have been brought against the members concerned at this time as officers were still undertaking preliminary investigations.
RESOLVED:
That subject to the verbal update be noted.
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Whistleblowing Update PDF 104 KB Minutes: The Committee were informed that there were presently 72 concerns three of these were also active at the time that the policy was introduced. Not all of the concerns raised were within the scope of the policy, however those that were, were referred to the relevant department and where the complaint concerned other agencies, the complainant was proved with details necessary to make an onward referral.
The Committee discussed the report and noted the following:
In regard to the safeguarding matter, Members were informed that the matter had been addressed quickly and the Council had dealt with the matter in accordance with the circumstances of the investigation.
Since Whistleblowing is administered through a third party, any anonymous complainants are still able to receive guidance and information relating how much information is required to be disclosed in order to lodge the complaint. However, the complainant is not constrained to provide this information if they do not wish to do so.
Regarding the Council’s comparative performance in this matter, Members were informed that Tower Hamlets went beyond many other local authorities as it was open to external organisations for public interest matters. Additionally, whistleblowing was legally a matter for employees; but the Council’s policy extended this right beyond this narrower scope. The Acting Corporate Director suggested that the Committee may wish to hear from Grant Thornton on the matter of Whistleblowing.
RESOLVED
That the whistleblowing concern and investigation monitoring information contained in Appendix 1 to the report be noted.
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Clear Up Project Final Report PDF 91 KB Additional documents:
Minutes: The project originated during the time that Commissioners were directed to the Council by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. The project aimed to investigate and answer 66 concerns that had been raised with Commissioners but which were outside of their remit. Therefore in collaboration with them, the Council devised an independent process to review such complaints involving independent reviewers. The findings of the project were presented to the Committee for consideration and would also be reported to Cabinet and Full Council. All matters raised would be responded to and an update made to Overview and Scrutiny Committee quarterly.
The Committee noted the following matters:
Responding to Members questions, the following information was provided:
The Committee asked:
RESOLVED
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Revised Planning Code of Conduct PDF 98 KB Additional documents: Minutes: Senior Lawyer Mr Greeno presented the report which concerned the revised planning code of conduct. He advised that as part of the ongoing review of the Council’s Constitution, the review had been undertaken to consolidate information for Members of the Council’s planning committees.
The Committee discussed the report and noted the following:
The changes would support members of the planning committees, and help to foster stringent transparency in an environment where members were required to consider high value developments and where the risks to which members might find themselves exposed were notable due to planning professionals.
The Chair suggested that the code should apply to the Strategic Planning Department's Conservation and Design Advisory Panel, which provides advice on applications to planners and Planning Committee report writers and the Senior Lawyer agreed to review how this advice could be offered to these officers.
In regard to section 7 of the draft code, paragraph 7.5, the Chair considered that information on the organisations to which members should not become affiliated should be more explicit.
The written comments of Co-optee Ms Browne submitted to the Chair were also noted.
RESOLVED
1. That the revised Planning Code of Conduct in Appendix 1 of the report be noted; 2. That it be noted that Planning Code of Conduct is part of the Council’s ethical framework and should be read in conjunction with the Councillors’ Code of Conduct and the Member/ Officer Protocol; 3. That it be noted as this is a Member Code of Conduct then pursuant to the Terms of Reference for the Standards Advisory Committee that this revised Code is being brought before this Committee for consideration so that the Committee can advise Council on the adoption or revision of the Code; 4. That it be noted that the revised Code will also go to General Purposes Committee for consideration; 5. That it be note that pursuant to Part 1 Paragraph 4.02 of the Constitution the adoption and amendment of the revised Licensing Code of Conduct is a matter for Council; and 6. That the Committee’s advice on the adoption or revision of the Code be noted including whether the Development Procedure Rules should be an Appendix to the Code.
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Members' Attendance, Timesheets and Declaration of Interests: Monitoring Report PDF 90 KB Additional documents:
Minutes: The Committee discussed the report and the following issues were highlighted:
In regard to attendance data the Committee highlighted that: · The percentage attendance data displayed was inaccurate. Officers advised that this would be investigated. · It was not clear how the percentages were calculated. · Members of long standing might choose not to attend training as they already had experience, however this would reflect badly on them in terms of the attendance data displayed in the Council’s website. · Training was insufficiently advertised and times of training poorly schedule which rendered some members unable to attend.
In regard to completion and submission of timesheets the Committee was advised that this was not a Council policy. Members then noted:
In regard to declarations, Members noted that the dates reported did not coincide with the reporting period.
The Acting Corporate Director noted the issues raised and advised that
RESOLVED
1. That the information set out in Appendices 1, 2 and 3 in relation to Councillors’ submission of timesheets, completion of the register of interests and attendance at training events, and during the previous and current municipal years and attendance at formal meetings and Members’ comments on the data be noted. 2. That the updated position for the automatic publication of the attendance of Members at meetings be noted. 3. That it be noted that at this time, the Committee does not consider there is a need to ask the Chair to write to any Councillor(s) in connection with any of the monitoring information; 4. That SAC to receive further specific monitoring reports on attendance, timesheets and declarations of interest at six monthly intervals
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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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Covert investigation under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 PDF 100 KB Minutes: This report was deferred.
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