Agenda and minutes

To confirm the Minutes of the meeting which took place on 30 September 2019 (to be laid on the table 30 minutes before the meeting commences).

The Minutes of the meeting which took place on 30 September 2019 were confirmed and signed.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Paul Follows, Peter and Penny Marriott.

To receive from Members, declarations of interests in relation to any items included on the agenda for this meeting in accordance with the Waverley Code of Local Government Conduct.

It was noted that Councillor Jerry Hyman was one of the Members referred to in the Monitoring Officer’s Report. The details of the Standards hearing were already in the public domain.

The Chairman to respond to any written questions received from Members of the public in accordance with Procedure Rule 10.

The deadline for receipt of questions is 5pm on Monday 6 January 2020.

There were no questions from members of the public.

The Chairman to respond to any written questions received from Members in accordance with Procedure Rule 11.

The deadline for receipt of questions is 5pm on Monday 6 January 2020.

There were no questions from Members of the Council.

There were no recommendations to Council.

The background papers relating to the following items are as set out in the reports included in the original agenda papers.

The Standards Committee last received a report of complaints submitted to the Monitoring Officer under the Member Code of Conduct in January 2019. This report summarises the complaints received since the last report, and also updates the Committee on a number of matters that fall within its remit.

Recommendation

It is recommended that the Standards Committee receives the report and makes any observations on it to the Monitoring Officer.

18.1     The Committee considered a report from the Monitoring Officer, Robin Taylor, on complaints received since January 2019. The report summarised the complaints received since the last report and also updated on a number of matters that fell within its remit.

18.2     The Committee noted that a number of informal complaints related to comments written by elected members in emails or posted online. This type of media could be shared widely and quickly with an audience the original author may not have intended. Combined with the absence of tone of voice and context, electronic communications were far more likely to lead to allegations of code breaches than any other form, especially when sent in haste.

18.3     Councillor Gray commented that there was no reference to whistle blowing which he felt was relevant, and he had not seen where this was reported. Officers responded that this was a function of the Audit Committee and they would look at when this was last reported.

18.4     The Committee discussed the role of the committee, and how they could learn from complaints received to promote ethical standards. The Committee noted that training had been provided to all Waverley Borough Councillors following the elections, and to the three Town Councils, and Cranleigh Parish Council. Further training would be provided on a regular basis, and consideration was being given on how this could be delivered to all the parish councils.

18.5     Following consideration of the report, the Committee NOTED the Monitoring Officer’s report.    

This report reviews the findings and recommendations of the report Local Government Ethical Standards by the Committee on Standards in Public Life.

Recommendation

It is recommended that the Standards Committee notes the summary of the recommendations of the report of the Committee on Standards in Public Life on Local Government Ethical Standards, and considers the implementation of the 15 best practice recommendations as set out in Annexe 3.

The Committee may wish to authorise the Monitoring Officer to take steps to ensure compliance with the best practice recommendations and to report to the Committee as appropriate.

19.1    The Committee received a report reviewing the findings and recommendations of the Committee on Standards in Public Life (CSPL) as set out in its report on Local Government Ethical Standards. The Committee was asked to consider the recommendations and to authorise the Monitoring Officer to take steps to ensure compliance with the best practice recommendations.

19.2    The Committee was advised that the CSPL had concluded that whilst the majority of councillors and officers maintained high standards of conduct, there was clear evidence of misconduct by a minority of councillors. The headline recommendation was to give local authorities the power to suspend, without allowances, councillors for up to six months but this would require legislative changes and was part of a package of reforms. The CSPL had made 26 recommendations, mostly requiring revision of legislation or regulations. There were 15 best practice recommendations which the CSPL considered should be implemented by all local authorities.

19.3    The Committee noted that the Local Government Association was working on developing an updated model Member Code of Conduct. Waverley had a good level of compliance with the recommended best practice, but there was scope to improve the Council’s Arrangements for dealing with Standards Allegations to provide greater transparency about proceedings and embed best practice.

19.4    The Committee agreed in principle the implementation of the best practice recommendations, and noted that the Monitoring Officer would report back to the next Committee meeting on proposed revisions to the Council’s Arrangements for dealing with Standards allegations in order to meet compliance with best practice.