Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence from Members.

Apologies were received from Councillor Stribley and Ian Sibley.

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 Kelly substituted for Councillor Stribley.

To elect a Chairman for the 2021/22 Municipal year.

Councillors D Butt and Ricketts were both separately Proposed and Seconded to be elected as Chairman and following a secret ballot it was

RESOLVED that Councillor Butt be elected as Chairman of the Standards Committee for the Municipal year 2021/22.

To elect a Vice Chairman for the 2021/22 Municipal year.

Councillors Brooks and Ricketts were both separately Proposed and Seconded to be elected as Vice Chairman and following a secret ballot it was

RESOLVED that Councillor Brooks be elected as Vice Chairman of the Standards Committee for the Municipal year 2021/22.

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 20 April 2021.

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Standards Committee held on 20 April 2021 having previously been circulated, be confirmed as accurate and signed by the Chairman.

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.

No public issues had been received.

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 April 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 'A' 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 April 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.

Following some discussion surrounding the Report, it was Proposed by the Chairman and Seconded that:

RESOLVED that the outcome of concluded complaints and the progress of those still outstanding be noted and request that the Monitoring Officer write an open a letter to all Councillors reminding them of their duties under the Code of Conduct regarding not breaching it, particularly in relation to social media areas and not bringing inappropriate and ill-considered complaints to Standards Committee.

Voting: For – unanimous.

This report provides a summary of the complaints received and determined which were made against councillors for alleged breaches of the Code of Conduct.

The Standards Committee has a duty to consider an annual report and to promote and maintain high standards of conduct.

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 a summary of the complaints received and determined which were made against councillors for alleged breaches of the Code of Conduct.

The Standards Committee had a duty to consider an annual report and to promote and maintain high standards of conduct.

The Committee discussed the Report and comments were made, including:

• Possible training for members in relation to social media use once the LGA release a training programme including guidance documents.  Identifying right time to deliver. Continue to monitor when document will be released
• The Parish and Town Councils.
• Sanctions imposed and the consequences of non-compliance which the Head of Democratic Services advised now had a strengthened section within the Code to address this issue.

RESOLVED that the annual report on code of conduct complaints be reviewed and any areas for further work be identified for inclusion in the work programme.

Work programme – training delivery, monitor LGA guidance and messages that are delivered to Cllrs – commitment from Members to adopt code.

Voting for – unanimous.