Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from 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 22^nd August 2022.

Moved by Councillor David Dixon and seconded by Councillor Clive Moesby

RESOLVED that the minutes of a meeting of the Standards Committee held on 22^nd August 2022 be approved as a true and correct record.

The Monitoring Officer presented the Committee with the Whistleblowing Policy Annual Report. 

There had been no instances of whistleblowing to report for the 2022 calendar year.

The Whistleblowing Policy had been reviewed and no changes were recommended.

Moved by Councillor David Dixon and seconded by Councillor Graham Parkin

RESOLVED that 1) the current Whistleblowing Policy be agreed as fit for purpose

2) it be noted that no instances of whistleblowing had been made during 2022.

The Monitoring Officer updated Members on the entries in the Gifts and Hospitality Register during the period of January 2022 to December 2022 which could be found in Appendix 2 to the report.

Moved by Councillor Graham Parkin and seconded by Councillor Deborah Watson

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

The Governance and Civic Manager presented a report which set out information relating to attendance at Councillor training events for the 2022/23 year.

The report stated that safeguarding training had been held in January 2023.  It was a requirement for all Councillors to undertaken safeguarding training every two years.  Currently 72% of Councillors had undertaken the training.

Moved by Councillor David Dixon and seconded by Councillor Clive Moesby

RESOLVED that report be noted.

Committee considered a report in relation to areas for review within the Council’s constitution.

The following areas had been identified for review:

Audit Committee

The report explained that during 2022 the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) had released updated guidance regarding Councils Audit Committees.  Whilst the Council was compliant with the majority of the new guidance there were key improvements that could be made, notably in relation to the committee structure.  It was therefore proposed that the current Audit & Corporate Overview Scrutiny Committee be disestablished and replaced be a separate Audit Committee and a Finance & Corporate Overview Scrutiny Committee.  The size and terms of reference for each scrutiny committee was set out in Appendix 1.  These changes also required the Scrutiny Procedure Rules, Call-in Procedure and Budget and Policy Framework to be amended accordingly, updated versions were attached to the report at Appendices 2 to 4.

Moved by Councillor Clive Moesby and seconded by Councillor Deborah Watson

RESOLVED that the proposed changes be supported and recommended to Council for approval.

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

The Monitoring Officer reported that a complaints update would be submitted to the next meeting. 

It was also reported that a Standards Sub-Committee had been held on 9 February 2022. 

To consider the Standards Committee Work Programme for the remainder of the 22/23 municipal year.

Committee considered and noted their work programme for the remainder of the 2022/23 municipal year.