Agenda and minutes

Members are asked to declare any interests in the items under consideration and in doing so state:

(1) the type of interest concerned either a

(a)   personal interest

(b)   prejudicial interest

(c)    disclosable pecuniary interest (DPI)

and

(2) the nature of the interest concerned

If any member requires advice on declarations of interests, they are advised to contact the Head of Democratic Governance in advance of the meeting.

There were no declarations of interest.

To agree the minutes of the last meeting held 5 September 2019 as a true and correct record.

The Committee agreed that the minutes of the meeting held on 5 September 2019 be signed by the Chair as a correct record.

To consider an update report from the Monitoring Officer on standards issues and the recent consultation on a model code of conduct from the Local Government Association.

The Committee received a report from the Monitoring Officer on standards issues since the last meeting including details of allegations received and training that had been held, as well as proposals for further training on social media and conflict resolution.   

Members noted the response, following the joint workshop with Fylde Council, to the Local Government Association (LGA) consultation on standards and the development of a draft model Code of Conduct.  The Monitoring Officer reported that the LGA had circulated the model Code to local authorities prior to the meeting  and that the Code would be considered in due course.  It was envisaged that in reviewing the model code this would be undertaken with the Independent persons and Fylde Borough Council.

The Monitoring Officer also advised members that Council in July had passed a resolution of condolence in respect of Mr Tony Mozley who had sadly died earlier in the year and that the recruitment process was underway for the independent person vacancy.

Resolved:

1.      To note the issues raised and the response to the Local Government Association Code of Conduct consultation.

2.      To support training being provided for elected members on the use of social media and conflict resolution, both to be facilitated by an external provider.

To receive an update on the best practice recommendations from the findings of the Committee on Standards in Public Life review of local government ethical standards.

The Committee considered a progress report following the recent review of local government and standards by the Committee on Standards in Public Life and to which the Government response was still awaited.  Members were aware that a series of best practice recommendations had been considered at the last meeting of the Standards Committee and were provided with an update on how these had been progressed.

Members went on to consider a proposed complaints handling procedure that incorporated recommendations of best practice and which had been developed in conjunction with Fylde Council and the shared Independent Persons.

Resolved:

1.      To note the report of the best practice issues as set out in the appendix to the report.

2.      To agree the Complaints Handling Process as set out in the appendix to the report.