Agenda and minutes

To authorise the Chairman to sign, as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 10 October 2022.

RESOLVED – That the Chairman be authorised to sign, as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 10 October 2022.

To receive declarations by Members of interests in respect of items on this Agenda.

Members are reminded that, in accordance with the revised Code of Conduct, they are required to declare any disclosable pecuniary interests or other registrable interests which have not already been declared in the Council’s Register of Interests.  (It is a criminal offence not to declare a disclosable pecuniary interest either in the Register or at the meeting.)

Members may, however, also decide, in the interests of clarity and transparency, to declare at this point in the meeting, any such disclosable pecuniary interests which they have already declared in the Register, as well as any other registrable or other interests.

If a Member requires advice on any item involving a possible declaration of interest which could affect his/her ability to speak and/or vote, he/she is advised to contact the Monitoring Officer at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting.

No declarations of interest were raised.

To consider whether the items, if any, in Part II of the Agenda should be considered in the presence of the press and public.

There were no excluded items on the agenda.

To consider the Committee’s Work Programme.

The Legal, Governance and Democracy Lead Specialist (Monitoring Officer) introduced the Standards Committee Work Programme (March 2022 to February 2023). She noted that the Work Programme items regarding the review of the website and the review of the member officer protocol had not been progressed as they would be reviewed by Westmorland and Furness Council, and that this had been discussed and agreed with the Chairman. Similarly, she noted that there were no dispensations that required review at this time.

Members had no questions.

RESOLVED – That the Standards Committee Work Programme (March 2022 to February 2023) be noted.

To note the report of the Monitoring Officer with regards to complaints under the Council’s Standards Arrangement from the date of the last update to the Committee on 10 October 2022.

The Legal, Governance and Democracy Lead Specialist (Monitoring Officer) presented a report with regard to complaints under the Council’s Standards Arrangements from the date of the last update to Committee on 10 October 2022.  Since October 2022, three new complaints had been received, two complaints had been resolved with no further action required and there were four active complaints at the time of writing the report, as outlined within Appendix 1 to the report. In relation to the active complaints, the Monitoring Officer noted that progress was ongoing.

The Chairman reminded Members that any complaints that were not resolved prior to the 31 March 2023 would be passed on to the Monitoring Officer for Westmorland and Furness Council, Linda Jones. The Monitoring Officer added that these matters would continue to be progressed by South Lakeland District Council up to 31 March.

Responding to a question on Appendix 1, the Monitoring Officer confirmed that all the data in the appendix was anonymous, and that information on each complaint was shared on a need to know basis with those individuals and councillors involved the complaint.

Cllr Severn arrived at 10:03am.

RESOLVED – That the report on Code of Conduct Complaints be noted.

To consider the Annual Report for 2022/2023 for a referral to Full Council.

The Legal, Governance and Democracy Lead Specialist (Monitoring Officer) presented the Standards Committee’s draft Annual Report for 2022/23 for referral to Full Council on 29 March 2023.  The report detailed the work of the Committee and the operation of the Council’s Standards Arrangements over the last 12 months.  To date, complaints under the Council’s Standards Arrangements had been considered under the delegated powers of the Monitoring Officer, and there had been no referrals to the Standards Committee.

The Monitoring Officer circulated an updated recommendation for the report, which added a delegation to the Monitoring Officer in consultation with the Chairman to agree and make updates to the report following any comments made at the Standards’ Committee meeting if required.

RESOLVED – That

(1)       the Standards Committee’s draft Annual Report for 2022/23 attached at Appendix 1 to the report be approved for referral to Full Council on 29 March 2023; and

(2)       authority be delegated to the Monitoring Officer, in consultation with the Chairman of the Committee, to make any minor amendments required prior to finalisation of the document being presented to Council , to reflect decisions arising from the Standards’ Committee meeting.

To delegate authority for the sign-off of final set of committee minutes to the

Monitoring Officer in consultation with the Chair.

The Legal, Governance and Democracy Lead Specialist (Monitoring Officer) noted that as it was the final meeting of the committee, there was a need to delegate the authority to sign off the minutes to her in consultation with the Chairman. She confirmed that a copy of the minutes would be circulated to Members for comment prior to any sign off.

Members highlighted the low level of complaints over the years, and recognised that it was a reflection of the conduct of both district and parish councillors. The Chairman echoed the comments, and gave thanks to the Independent Person and Officers for their work in resolving the complaints.

Members also gave thanks to the Parish Councils for their cooperation over the years, noting that the number of complaints was very low in comparison to the number of Parish Councillors in the District. Lastly, they recognised the vital efforts of the Parish Clerks to ensure that parish councillors’ declarations were kept up to date.

RESOLVED – That authority for the sign-off of the final set of Committee minutes be delegated to the Monitoring Officer, in consultation with the Chairman of the Committee.