Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence from Members.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Baron and Rigby.  Councillor Brooks was Chairman for the meeting in Councillor Baron’s absence.

To receive information on any changes in the membership of the Committee.

Note – When a member of a Committee is unable to attend a meeting of a Committee or Sub-Committee, the relevant Political Group Leader (or their nominated representative) may, by notice to the Monitoring Officer (or their nominated representative) prior to the meeting, appoint a substitute member from within the same Political Group. The contact details on the front of this agenda should be used for notifications.

Councillor Bull substituted for Councillor Rigby.

Councillors are requested to declare any interests on items included in this agenda. Please refer to the workflow on the preceding page for guidance.

Declarations received will be reported at the meeting.

None received.

To confirm and sign as a correct record the minutes of the Meeting held on 12 January 2021.

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 12 January 2021 were confirmed as a true and correct record.

Voting: For - Unanimous

To receive any public questions, statements or petitions submitted in accordance with the Constitution, which is available to view at the following link:-

https://democracy.bcpcouncil.gov.uk/ieListMeetings.aspx?CommitteeID=151&Info=1&bcr=1

The deadline for the submission of public questions is 4 clear working days before the meeting.

The deadline for the submission of a public statement is midday the working day before the meeting.

The deadline for the submission of a petition is 10 working days before the meeting.

None received.

The Local Government Association has produced a New Model Code of Conduct for Councillors which is appended to this report at Appendix 1.

The Standards Committee is responsible for monitoring the Code of Conduct and for making recommendations to Full Council on any changes to the Code.

The Committee received details of the Model Code at the last meeting but delayed recommending the adoption pending viewing other interested parties and to await the outcome of the Government’s consideration of the Committee for Standards in Public Life recommendations.

The Monitoring Officer presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'A' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

The Local Government Association had produced a New Model Code of Conduct for Councillors which was appended to the report at Appendix 1.

The Standards Committee was responsible for monitoring the Code of Conduct and for making recommendations to Full Council on any changes to the Code.

The Committee received details of the Model Code at the last meeting but delayed recommending the adoption pending viewing other interested parties and to await the outcome of the Government’s consideration of the Committee for Standards in Public Life recommendations.

The Committee discussed the report and Appendix and an amendment to the Local Government Association Model Councillor Code of Conduct was Proposed, Seconded and unanimously voted in favour of to insert ‘known’ in Paragraph 8b as detailed below:

8. Where a matter arises at a meeting which affects –

a. your own financial interest or well-being;

b. a ‘known’ financial interest or well-being of a friend, relative, close associate; or

c. a body included in those you need to disclose under Disclosable Pecuniary Interests as set out in Table 1.

RECOMMENDED that the Local Government Association Model Councillor Code of Conduct, as set out in Appendix 1 to the report, be adopted by Full Council with the proposed amendment.

Voting: For - Unanimous

This report provides Members with an update on complaints regarding alleged breaches of the Code of Conduct against councillors received or concluded since the last meeting in January 2021.

The Committee is responsible for maintaining high standards of conduct by Members of BCP Council and the Town and Parish Councils, monitoring the operation of the Code of Conduct, and considering the outcome of commissioned independent investigations.

The Head of Democratic Services presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'B' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

The report provided Members with an update on complaints regarding alleged breaches of the Code of Conduct against councillors received or concluded since the last meeting in January 2021.

The Committee was responsible for maintaining high standards of conduct by Members of BCP Council and the Town and Parish Councils, monitoring the operation of the Code of Conduct, and considering the outcome of commissioned independent investigations.

RESOLVED that the outcome of concluded complaints and the progress of those still outstanding be noted.

Voting: For – Unanimous