Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received on behalf of Councillor David Downes.

To note any urgent items of business which the Chairman has consented to being considered under the provisions of Section 100(B) 4(b) of the Local Government Act 1972.

There was no urgent business to be considered at the meeting.

Members should declare the existence and nature of any Disclosable Pecuniary Interest and Non Statutory Interest as defined by the Members’ Code of Conduct in respect of:

a)  any business on the agenda

b)  any urgent additional items to be considered

c)  any matters arising out of those items

and if appropriate, withdraw from the meeting at the relevant time.

Members were requested to declare the existence and nature of any disclosable pecuniary interests and/or other interests, not already on their register of interests, in any item on the agenda and withdraw from the meeting at the appropriate time.

There were no declarations made at the meeting.

To consider the minutes of the last meeting held on 24^th January 2022

Councillor Tricia Clough requested that the minutes be amended to show her apologies.

Moved by Councillor David Dixon and seconded by Councillor Deborah Watson

RESOLVED that subject to the inclusion of Councillor Tricia Clough’s apologies, the Minutes of a meeting of the Standards Committee held on 24^th January 2022 be approved as a true and correct record.

Committee considered a report which set out performance in relation to Customer Service Standards and the effective management of complaints. 

The Monitoring Officer noted that some missed targets for telephony had been as a result of Covid 19 and resource issues.

A Member requested for future reports that the performance tables compare current statistics with figures from the previous 12 months rather than the previous quarter.  The Monitoring Officer confirmed that this would be included for future reports.

Moved by Councillor Graham Parkin and seconded by Councillor David Dixon

RESOLVED that the overall performance on Customer Service Standards and    Compliments, Comments and Complaints be noted.

(Customer Standards and Complaints Officer)

Committee’s approval was sought to recommend to Council that the New Bolsover Joint Partnership Committee be disestablished.

At its meeting held on 17^th March 2022, Members of the New Bolsover Joint Partnership Committee had supported the proposal to disestablish the Committee as the New Bolsover New Beginnings project had come to an end.  However, Members had expressed the prospect of accommodation continuing to be provided for the Friends of New Bolsover.  The Monitoring Officer confirmed that discussions were ongoing to find the group a venue.

Moved by Councillor Deborah Watson and seconded by Councillor Graham Parkin

RESOLVED that Standards Committee support the disestablishment of the New             Bolsover Joint Partnership Committee for the reasons outlined in the report.

RECOMMENDED that Council agree to disestablish the New Bolsover Joint Partnership Committee for the reasons outlined in the report.

(Monitoring Officer)

Committee considered a draft Annual Report on the work they had undertaken during the municipal year 2021/22, prior to submission to Annual Council.

Moved by Councillor David Dixon and seconded by Councillor Deborah Watson

RESOLVED that the Committee’s Annual Report be presented to Annual Council on 18^th May 2022.

(Governance/ Monitoring Officer)

Committee considered a report which provided information relating to Councillor attendance at training events between November 2021 and March 2022.

The Monitoring Office emphasised the importance of Members attending Code of Conduct training.

A Member believed it was the responsibility of political group leaders to ensure their Members attended training. 

Members agreed that future Member update reports include the genuine reasons for a Member not being able to attend training.

In response to a query from the Legal Team Manager, a Member felt that training should be delivered in a more interactive way.

Moved by Councillor Clive Moesby and seconded by Councillor Deborah Watson

RESOLVED that the information and statistics for Member attendance at training between November 2021 and March 2022 as attached at Appendix 1 to the report be noted.

Committee considered a verbal update on the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) training.

The Monitoring Officer noted that all authorising officers who undertook covert surveillance would need to undertake the training.

Moved by Councillor Clive Moesby and seconded by Councillor Deborah Watson

RESOLVED that the verbal report be noted.

Verbal update on statistics of complaints received by the Council against District and Parish Councillors

Committee considered a report which set out the figures for complaints made against Members since 1^st January 2022.

In response to a Member’s question, the Monitoring Officer explained that currently, if a complaint was made against a parish councillor, only the parish clerk was notified, however, he was considering the possibility of notifying parish councillors as well.

Moved by Councillor David Dixon and seconded by Councillor Deborah Watson

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

To consider the Standards Committee Work Programme for the remainder of the 21/22 municipal year.

Committee considered the remainder of their Work Programme for 2021/22.

Moved by Councillor David Dixon and seconded by Councillor Deborah Watson

RESOLVED that the Work Programme 2021/2022 be noted.