Agenda and minutes

To authorise the Chairman to sign, as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 14 March 2022 (copy attached).

RESOLVED – That the Chairman be authorised to sign, as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting held on 14 March 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 note the Terms of Reference for the Standards Committee.

RESOLVED – That the Terms of Reference for the Standards Committee were noted.

To receive the annual report of the Local Government Ombudsman for 2021/22 and the summary of complaints and compliments received from April 2021 to March 2022.

The Director of Strategy, Innovation and Resources presented the findings of the annual report of the Local Government Ombudsman for 2021/22 and the summary of complaints and compliments received from April 2021 to March 2022.

In May 2020, the Council introduced a streamlined approach to complaints with the implementation of an online system for logging, monitoring and responding to customer comments, compliments and complaints.

Over the period of 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022 the council received a total of 658 complaints and enquiries through the customer complaints channels. A breakdown of these was provided.

It was reported that the reasons for complaints were wide and varied and that there was no underlying trend, although during 2021/2022, the complexity of a significant amount of complaints made had increased based on previous years. The impacts of the COVID 19 pandemic, and the challenges in delivering refuse services were discussed.

A breakdown of the total number of complaints received relating to service areas was provided.

It was stated how the Council recognises the value of complaints made and uses the insight gained to drive service improvements considering the wider implications rather than focusing on individual issues. Lessons learned were used to identify opportunities for continuous improvement.

In 2021/2022 no decisions were upheld against the Council by the Local Government Ombudsman whilst, on average, 51% of decisions for similar councils were upheld.

Members noted the annual summary of complaint statistics from the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman for the year ending 31 March 2022 and stated that these results were a credit to officers during a very challenging period. Members also addressed the planning complaints and referenced the significant number of those that had been received from Tim Farron MP. Members expressed a willingness to explore how these could be handled more effectively and the number of complaints received potentially reduced.

Members also identified that in improving the ease and accessibility for users to make complaints this will have inevitably increased the number of complaints received respectively.

Members discussed the potential benefits of the new authority receiving reports from the Standards Committee concerning the Council’s complaints practices and standards.

RESOLVED – That the reports be received and recent decisions of the Local Government Ombudsman be noted.

To note the report of the Deputy Monitoring Officer with regards to complaints under the Council’s Standards Arrangement from the date of the last update to the Committee on 14 March 2022.

Members requested a written update from Deputy Monitoring Officer on the status of the two outstanding complaints.

RESOLVED – That the report of the Deputy Monitoring Officer with regards to complaints under the Council’s Standards Arrangement from the date of the last update to the Committee on the 14 March 2022 be noted.

To review the register of disclosable pecuniary and other interests for District Council Members and co-optees for the period up to October 2022.

The Legal, Governance and Democracy Specialist – Solicitor, briefly introduced the report and welcomed questions from Members.

The Chairman requested that an email to the appropriate Group Leaders be sent to enquire as to why five Members had not confirmed that they understood the new Code of Conduct.

Members had no further questions.

RESOLVED – That the review of the District Register of Interests be noted.

To consider the review of the Parish register of disclosable pecuniary and other interests for Parish Councillors since the Committee’s last review on 11 October 2021 to present.

The Legal, Governance and Democracy Specialist – Solicitor, introduced the report and welcomed questions from Members.

The Chairman requested that contact be made with Parish Clerks to ensure that training and declarations of interest forms are maintained.  A Member queried if it was acceptable that ten re-elected councillors last submitted register forms in 2018.  The Legal, Governance and Democracy Specialist confirmed that there is no obligation to resubmit if there are no changes.

RESOLVED – That the review of the Parish Register of Interests be noted.

To review the register of interests, gifts and hospitality for employees and Members since the last update to the Committee in October 2021.

The Legal, Governance and Democracy Specialist – Solicitor, introduced the report and welcomed questions from Members.

The Legal, Governance and Democracy Specialist drew attention to the different thresholds when registration is required but suggested that no change is made at this stage.  

Members had no questions.

RESOLVED- That the Review of the Employee Register of Interests and Gifts and Hospitality; and Member Gifts and Hospitality, and appendices be noted.

To consider the Committee’s Work Programme.

The Legal, Governance and Democracy Specialist – Solicitor, introduced the Standards Committee Work Programme and clarified that the work relating to the review of the website and review of member officer protocol had not been undertaken and would be reviewed by the new authority.  The Legal, Governance and Democracy Specialist welcomed questions from Members.

Members queried if the work of this Committee was to be communicated to the new authority and asked if a Standards Committee had been set up. The Chief Executive provided an update on progress with the development of a new constitution, policy and performance framework. Members stated that existing Councils had gleaned learning as a result of complaints. 

Members discussed the importance of sharing data from this Committee/Council, in the appropriate manner, with the new authority in order that they may make independent decisions on how the new set up might work.  Members recognised that it would be appropriate for the new authority to seek input if it was required.  The Chief Executive stated that Members were within their remit to put forward best practice.

Officers reassured Members that the current reporting processes and systems would remain operating in their current format until the vesting day of the new authority.

The Chairman requested confirmation of the timescales involved for any additional actions or ratification required following the next meeting of the Committee.

RESOLVED – That the Standards Committee Work Programme be noted.