Agenda and minutes
Venue: Room C3, 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 118 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 211 KB To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Standards (Advisory) Committee held on 17 January 2019.
Minutes: Subject to minor typographical corrections, the minutes of the meeting held on 17 January 2019 were approved as a correct record of proceedings.
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REPORTS FOR CONSIDERATION |
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Social Media Policy PDF 312 KB Additional documents: Minutes: The Committee received a presentation from the Head of External Communications and the Senior Communications Officer – Projects, which provided an overview of the refreshed Social Media Policy for Councillors and council employees. The Committee was informed that a policy was already in force. However, arising from the report published by the Committee on Standards in Public Life (CSPL) out of its review of local government ethical standards, the policy was being refreshed and enhanced to better assist members and officers to understand how social media may be used appropriately and effectively.
An updated draft was tabled at the meeting which had been re-formatted to better convey which elements related to policy and which were guidance.
Responding to Members’ questions, the following information was also provided:
Noting the spread and reach of social media in the community; the Committee considered that the approach adopted was appropriate. Members discussed the report and, arising from the discussion, the following actions were requested:
Following the discussion, Members were advised of the following actions which would be taken:
RESOLVED 1. That the discussion of the draft Social Media Policy attached as Appendix 1 be noted. 2. That following the incorporation of Member feedback, the adoption of the policy be recommend to the Corporate Leadership Team.
ACTION BY:M Norman, Legal Adviser, and Deputy Monitoring Officer K Middleton, Head of External Communications
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Code of Conduct for Members - Complaint Monitoring PDF 234 KB Additional documents: Minutes: The Deputy Monitoring Officer introduced the report which summarised the number of complaints received concerning potential breaches of the Code of Conduct for Members in the period 23 May 2018 to 31 March 2019. He informed the Committee that fewer complaints had been lodged than in the previous municipal year. He also clarified that the complaint lodged on 27 February was recorded an incomplete at the time of publication. However, consultation with the Independent Person took place in April and it was assessed that no further action was necessary. The complaint was therefore closed.
Arising from the discussion of the report the following information was also noted:
RESOLVED
That the content of the report and the discussion of the information contained in Appendix 1 be noted.
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Committee on Standards In Public Life - Report on Local Government Ethical Standards PDF 378 KB Minutes: The Deputy Monitoring Officer introduced the report which summarised the findings and recommendations of the CSPL review of local government ethical standards. He noted that primary legislation would need to be amended should the Government wish that certain of the recommendations of the report be implemented.
The Deputy Monitoring Officer invited the Committee to consider the good practice identified by CSPL and how the council’s arrangements compared with these. The Committee noted that:
Having considered the main recommendations and BP recommendations, the Committee requested the following:
The Committee was advised that the actions requested by Members and those identified out of the BP recommendations would be taken forward and an update report brought back at the end of the year.
RESOLVED
1. That the content of the report be noted. 2. That the feedback and recommendations of the Committee be taken forward as indicated in the minute to this item.
ACTION BY:M Norman, Legal Adviser and Deputy Monitoring Officer
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Publication of Candidates Home Addresses and Disclosure of Sensitive Interests PDF 409 KB Minutes: The Deputy Monitoring Officer introduced the report which informed Members of revisions relating to the requirements around the publication of home addresses for candidates at local elections and to new Government guidance on the publication of sensitive interests.
The Committee noted that the revisions stemmed from a commission by the Prime Minister which had arisen from concerns around personal abuse and risk of harm experienced by those standing for, or holding, public office.
The Committee noted the information provided and indicated that there were no matters related to this subject that they wished to discuss.
RESOLVED
That the revisions and guidance outlined in the report be noted.
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Updating the Disqualification Criteria for Councillors and Mayors PDF 312 KB Additional documents: Minutes: The Deputy Monitoring Officer introduced the report which provided a summary of a Government consultation on proposals to revise the disqualification criteria for councillors and mayors (including elected mayors). The proposed revisions were intended to bring these criteria into line with sentencing guidelines in the Courts.
The Committee noted that the approach was consistent with Council’s best practice in the Member Code of Conduct. Members also noted that Tower Hamlets was not among the councils that had participated in the consultation. The Committee asked officers to pursue lobbying on this matter on behalf of the council.
RESOLVED
1. That the Government proposals contained at Appendix 1 be noted. 2. That the action requested above be taken forward by officers.
ACTION BY:M Norman, Legal Adviser and Deputy Monitoring Officer
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Register of Members' Gifts and Hospitality PDF 235 KB Additional documents: Minutes: The Head of Democratic Services introduced the report which provided an update on declarations of gifts and hospitality in the period 1 October 2018 to 31 March 2019. The Committee was informed that, since the previous report, performance had improved in that a greater number of declarations had been registered in the required timescales These improvements were attributed to Member Ethics and Probity training delivered earlier in the year.
The Committee discussed the data and raised the following matters:
RESOLVED
1. That the content of the report be noted. 2. That the feedback and recommendations of the Committee be taken forward as indicated in the minute to this item.
ACTION BY:M Mannion, Head of Democratic Services
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Minutes: The Deputy Monitoring Officer informed the Committee that the work plan outlined the work that had been undertaken during the year and was provided for information. A new work plan would be brought forward in the new municipal year.
The Committee discussed the plan and noted the following proposals: · It was intended that the work of the Committee be mainstreamed in the council. As part of this, the Monitoring Officer invited the Chair to attend Annual Council on 15 May 2019. · It was proposed that work to better communicate the work of the Committee would be undertaken with Corporate Communications. · It was intended that the matter of the vacant Co-optee positions on the Committee would be addressed after work on the Terms of Reference and the wider work on the Constitution had been completed. The Chair suggested that the Co-optees presently appointed could support the task of finding suitable applicants by communicating the future recruitment within their networks.
1. That the work plan be noted. 2. That the feedback and recommendations of the Committee be taken forward as indicated in the minute to this item.
ACTION BY:M Norman, Legal Adviser and Deputy Monitoring Officer A Burgio, Democratic Services Officer
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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: There was none. |