Venue: Committee Room 1, Runcorn Town Hall. View directions
Contact: Angela Scott on 0151 471 7529 or Email: Angela.scott@halton.gov.uk
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Minutes: The minutes of the meeting held on 8 September 2010, having been printed and circulated, were signed as a correct record.
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Dual -hatted Members and The Code of Conduct PDF 15 KB Additional documents: Minutes: The Committee received a report of the Strategic Director, Resources on Dual-Hatted Members and the Code of Conduct. Standards for The Committee discussed the potential conflict of interests for such Members and the issue of pre-determination or bias where Members sat on different bodies which determined matters such as planning applications or other regulatory issues. The Monitoring Officer was asked to identify the existence of any Dual-Hatted Members within the Authority and to forward to them the link for the online guide with an explanatory note. Of particular interest were scenarios set out within the on-line version of the guidance; Members were advised that these could be completed as individuals or as a group. RESOLVED: That the report be noted.
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Press Release- Communities Minister PDF 15 KB Additional documents: Minutes: The Committee received a report of the Strategic Director, Resources which advised them of a recent press release from the Communities Minister, Andrew Stunell, which set out his views on the future of the Standards regime. In the press release, Mr. Stunell indicated that serious misconduct for personal gain
would become a criminal offence, and pointed out that the Government would
legislate to ensure that, whilst abusing a position for personal gain would
result in criminal sanctions, ineffective or irresponsible behaviour would be a
matter for the electorate rather than Standards for The Committee discussed the procedures that were in place for handling complaints and Ombudsman investigations within Halton Borough Council. The Monitoring Officer agreed to provide the Committee with a copy of the Ombudsman’s Annual Letter. RESOLVED: That the report be noted. |
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Standards For England - Roundup PDF 16 KB Additional documents:
Minutes: The
Committee received a report of the Strategic Director, Resources on a Standards for At the September meeting of the Committee, the Monitoring Officer reported verbally on the headlines from the Standards for England Bulletin No. 48, attached as an Appendix to the report. The primary thrust of the
Bulletin was the future of Standards for RESOLVED: That the report be noted. |
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Recent Case Summaries from Standards For England PDF 15 KB Additional documents: Minutes: The
Committee received a report of the Strategic Director, Resources on recent case
summaries from Standards for The Committee noted and discussed the contents of cases from West Devon Borough Council and Portsmouth City Council. RESOLVED: That the report be noted.
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Minutes: The Committee’s Action List was attached for information. In considering the Action List, the Committee noted that the development of the actions would be dictated by legislation relating to the future of the Standards regime, as well as the impact of financial constraints on local authority budgets. RESOLVED: That the report be noted. |