Agenda and minutes

Standards Committee - Monday, 13th March, 2017 7.00 pm

Venue: Guildhall

Contact: Julian Pugh Tel: 01905 722006

Items
No.	Item
21.	Appointment of Substitutes Minutes: None.
22.	Declarations of Interest View the background to item 22. To receive any declarations of interest. Minutes: None.
23.	Public Participation View the background to item 23. Up to a total of fifteen minutes can be allowed, each speaker being allocated a maximum of five minutes, for members of the public to present a petition, ask a question, or comment on any matter on the Agenda or within the remit of the Committee. Minutes: None.
24.	Minutes PDF 51 KB View the background to item 24. Of the meeting held on 14^th November 2016 to be approved and signed. Minutes: RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held on 14^th November 2016 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.
25.	Guidance on Use of Social Media PDF 87 KB That the Committee adopts the Guidance on the use of Social Media in Appendix 1 of this report. Additional documents: Guidance on use of Social Media by Members FINAL , item 25. PDF 53 KB Minutes: At the meeting on 14^th November 2016, the Committee asked the Monitoring Officer to prepare some guidance for Members on the use of Social Media. Draft guidance had now been prepared and was set out in Appendix 1 of the Monitoring Officer’s report for consideration. The Deputy Monitoring Officer highlighted the main points. In the ensuing discussion Committee Members expressed unanimous support for the draft guidance. RESOLVED: That the Committee adopts the Guidance on the use of Social Media in Appendix 1 of the report.
26.	Complaints Made Under the Members' Code of Conduct. PDF 80 KB That the Committee note the report. Minutes: The Committee were advised that, since the last meeting, the Monitoring Officer had not considered any complaints with an Independent Person. RESOLVED: That the Committee note the report.
27.	Reports of the Local Government Ombudsman PDF 82 KB That the Committee note any complaints which have received a report, an upheld decision or where maladministration has been identified by the Local Government Ombudsman. Minutes: The Committee were advised that, to date for the year commencing 1^st April 2016, there had been no reports or upheld decisions received or incidents of maladministration identified by the Ombudsman to report to the Committee. RESOLVED: That the Committee note the report.
28.	Registers of Members' and Officers' Gifts and Hospitality and Register of Interests To review the registers of Members’ and Officers’ gifts and hospitality and register of interests. The registers will be available for inspection from 6.30p.m. onwards, so that Members can have the opportunity to review them either before or at the meeting. Minutes: The Committee were given the opportunity to review the registers of Members’ and Officers’ gifts and hospitality and register of interests.
29.	Any Other Business Which in the opinion of the Chairman is of sufficient urgency as to warrant consideration. Minutes: The Chairman made reference to issues for future meetings. She proposed that the Committee consider guidance for Members on issues relating to Outside Bodies, including the appointments process, duties of representatives, the roles of Trustees and Directors, and dealing with any potential conflict of interests. Other Committee Members supported the Chairman’s proposal.