Agenda and draft minutes

There were no apologies for absence received.

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 29^th January 2024.

Moved by Councillor Clive Moesby and seconded by Councillor Jane Yates

RESOLVED that the minutes of a meeting of the Standards Committee held on 29^th January 2024 be approved as a true and correct record.

The Director of Governance and Legal Services & Monitoring Officer presented a report which proposed an amendment to the Officer Delegation Scheme to enable the Strategic Director of Services to purchase vehicles above the Key Decision threshold.

The report explained that the Council sets the budget for capital spend, including an amount for replacement vehicles.  The purchase of individual vehicles was then approved by either officers under delegated powers or Executive if the value of the vehicles to be purchased exceeded the Key Decision threshold for capital spend, i.e. £150,000.

It was therefore proposed that the Officer Delegation Scheme be amended to enable the Strategic Director of Services to agree to the purchase of all vehicles.  This power would only be used where the Council’s Contract Procedure Rules had been complied with.  The proposed wording of the delegation to the Strategic Director of Services was ‘To agree to the purchase of all vehicles subject to the purchase being in accordance with the approved capital budget and the Contract Procurement Rules.’

Moved by Councillor Jane Yates and seconded by Councillor Catherine Tite

RESOLVED that the proposed amendment to the Constitution in relation to the Officer Delegation Scheme, as set out in the report, be recommended to Council for approval.

The Director of Governance and Legal Services & Monitoring Officer presented a report which provided the Committee with information relating to Councillor attendance at training events.

The report explained that part of the terms of reference of the Committee was to oversee Member Training, including the attendance of Members at courses.  A summary of Councillor attendance at training sessions during 2023/24 was attached to the report at Appendix 1.

The Committee expressed disappointment at some of the low levels of attendance.  The Director of Governance and Legal Services & Monitoring Officer stated that more sessions, including catch up sessions for some of the training subjects that were mandatory, were being organised.

Moved by Councillor Catherine Tite and seconded by Councillor Jane Yates

RESOLVED that the information and statistics for Member attendance at training so far during 2023/24, as attached at Appendix 1 to the report, be noted.

The Committee considered the draft Annual Report on the work it had undertaken during the Municipal Year 2023/24.  It was intended that the report be presented to Annual Council on 22^nd May 2024.

The Director of Governance and Legal Services & Monitoring Officer stated that further information would be added to Section 9 – Member Training Attendance following the discussion earlier in the meeting.

Moved by Councillor Catherine Tite and seconded by Councillor Louise Fox

RESOLVED that the draft Annual Report on the work undertaken during the Municipal Year 2023/24, be approved.

The Director of Governance and Legal Services & Monitoring Officer provided an update on the Council’s use of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA), which governed the use of covert surveillance by public bodies.  It was confirmed that no applications had been made during 2023/24 to use RIPA.

The Director of Governance and Legal Services & Monitoring Officer explained that it was rare for councils to use covert methods of surveillance now; it had been used more when councils had responsibility for investigating benefit fraud.  It was also reported that the Deputy Monitoring Officer was revising the current RIPA policy.

The Chair spoke about their experience of considering applications for search warrants in Court.

The Committee noted the update.

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

The Director of Governance and Legal Services & Monitoring Officer provided a verbal update on complaints made against Councillors.  It was reported that there were currently no outstanding complaints.

The Director of Governance and Legal Services & Monitoring Officer also reported that he was currently providing training to Parish Councils.