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
No. | Item |
---|---|
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. |
|
MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING(S) PDF 100 KB To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Standards (Advisory) Committee held on 29 June 2017.
Minutes: RESOLVED
That the minutes of the meeting held on 29th June 20107 be approved as a correct record of proceedings.
Matters Relating to the Minutes Raised by Members Timesheets – A Member noted that the minutes indicated that following the discussion the Committee concluded that the Council’s policy is to submit timesheets and reasoned that this position should be maintained unless Council resolves otherwise. The Corporate Director advised that she had not had sight of this policy but believed the approach to be a group requirement. Acknowledging arguments put forward around transparency of member activity it was agreed that the matter would be investigated and that, with the Chair’s agreement, the issue would be revisited and a paper brought to a future meeting. Attendance - Members asked that the inaccurate attendance data relating to two councillors that was published in the report be corrected.
Action by: Beverley McKenzie, Head of Members Support and Antonella Burgio, Democratic Services Officer.
|
|
REPORTS FOR CONSIDERATION |
|
Code of Conduct for Members - Complaint Monitoring and Associated Matters PDF 86 KB Additional documents: Minutes: Members:
. Responding to queries from the Committee, the following information was provided.
Noting the email security issues around the usual email method of correspondence between officers and councillors for those members who did not participate in the Council provided email facility, Members were informed that in the first instance email would remain the Council’s primary method of communication. However should officers fail to receive a response, there would be follow up via letter. Officers would be expected to follow up contact.
Concerning the implementation of the new on-line complaint process, the Corporate Director advised that the intention was to receive new complaints via a transparent process. She asked Elected Members to take back the form to their political groups to raise awareness.
Concerning what had prompted the spate of code of conduct complaints, the Committee was informed that there was no analysis available to indicate likely causes.
RESOLVED
That the content of the report and the discussion of the information contained in Appendix 1 be noted.
|
|
Dispensations Under Section 33 of the Localism Act 2011 PDF 89 KB Minutes: Members noted:
Members discussed areas/matters where dispensations might be applied and felt that there was lack of clarity around dispensations for interests that related to Members’ spouses/partners/children/property-leaseholders.
The Corporate Director agreed that a future report be brought to the Committee on dispensations, including those relating to property for the period January 2018 until the Local Elections in May 2018. The Vice-Chair requested that regular periodic reports on use of dispensations also be made to the Committee.
RESOLVED
1. That the specific dispensation granted by the Monitoring Officer detailed in paragraph 3.2 of the report be noted.
2. That the discussion of the proposed General Dispensation and future arrangements detailed in paragraphs 3.5 to 3.8 of the report be noted.
3. That responsibility related to expedited dispensations be delegated to the Chair and Vice-Chair of Standards Advisory Committee in consultation with the Corporate Director for Governance/Monitoring Officer.
4. That periodic reports on the use of dispensations be made to Standards Advisory Committee.
|
|
Constitution Review – Member/ Officer Relations’ Protocol PDF 100 KB General Purposes Committee on 5th July 2017 agreed to review the Member/Officer Relations’ Protocol. This report presents a revised Member/Officer Relations’ Protocol for recommendation to Council and addresses the Best Value Programme Review Board consideration for a Member to Member protocol. Additional documents:
Minutes: Members noted: · That the report concerned member-officer related matter and the relationships between them. · That and additional section (Section 4) had been added as a result of the SOLACE programme on organisational culture. · That the Member/Officer Relations Protocol would, subject to approval by Council, replace the previous protocol. If adopted by Council the protocol would be cascaded to all officers.
Members discussed the report and highlighted the following matters:
RESOLVED
1. That the recommendation to Council for approval the revised draft Member/ Officer Relations’ Protocol at Appendix 1 be endorsed; and
|
|
Gifts and Hospitality PDF 85 KB Additional documents:
Minutes: Members noted:
Members discussed the likely circumstances in which receipt of gifts and hospitality should be declared and noted , for transparency, the Corporate Director’s advice that a proactive approach should be adopted and it is a requirement to declare where gifts and hospitality have been declined.
RESOLVED
|
|
Minutes: Members noted:
Members were asked to consider when they wished the unscheduled titles in the programme to be brought forward for discussion.
RESOLVED
That the content of the work programme and discussion of the matter be noted.
|
|
ANY OTHER BUSINESS WHICH THE CHAIR CONSIDERS URGENT To consider any other unrestricted business that the Chair considers to be urgent.
Minutes: The Committee
|
|
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.”
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.
Minutes: The Committee did not resolve to exclude press and public as no exempt reports were considered at the meeting.
|
|
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.
|