Agenda and minutes

None.

None.

None.

Of the meeting held on 11^th November 2020 to be approved and signed.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held on 11^th November 2020 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

That the Committee note the report.

The Committee received a report from the Monitoring Officer on complaints made under the Members’ Code of Conduct. The Monitoring Officer advised that, since the last meeting of the Committee in November 2020, 2 complaints have been received.

The first complaint had an outcome of “no action” as the conduct complained of was outside the scope of the Code. The second complaint was currently under assessment.

RESOLVED: That the Committee note the report.

That the Committee note the contents of this report from the Monitoring Officer.

(Report to follow)

The Monitoring Officer updated the Committee on a number of issues, as follows:

LGA Model Code of Conduct

The Local Government Association’s revised Model Code had now been published. It had not changed substantially from the version which was subject to consultation. The majority of the Worcestershire Monitoring Officers had taken the view that, while the benefits of moving to a new Code were relatively marginal, it might be preferable to keep in step with the rest of the sector and adopt the new Code, particularly if the LGA intended to release further guidance and case studies. The Code adopted by the Council in 2020 would remain in force until such time as a new pan-Worcestershire Code has been drafted.

Committee Members agreed that the Model Code should be used as the basis for a new draft of a pan-Worcestershire Code for the reasons set out above.

Guidance for Worcester City Council Members

The guidance on use of social media will be reviewed and brought to a future meeting of the Committee, taking account of any renewed guidance that might be issued by the Local Government Association.

The Council’s guidance on use of stationery had been reviewed and expanded to cover other areas which have been the subject of recent Member Code of Conduct complaints, namely the use of Council email and the giving of personal references. A revised version had been circulated with the agenda and was discussed by the Committee.

the Monitoring Officer explained that the overall focus of this guidance is to ensure that councillors are aware of the circumstances in which it is reasonable to be representing someone as if acting on official Council business and when it should be made clear that the councillor is acting in a personal capacity.

In the ensuing discussion, Members concluded that the guidance on references was useful. With regard to the use of email, there was a debate on the use of email footers and email addresses to indicate the capacity in which an email has been sent. The Monitoring Officer advised that it is intended to roll out new email accounts for all Members later this year. In the circumstances, the Committee concluded that the guidance on printed stationery- meaning letterhead, postcards, printed media – was appropriate. However the guidance on the use of email should be separated for the present and brought back to a future meeting.

With regard to the giving of personal references, the Monitoring Officer advised that other local authorities take different views. Some have advised that, where the reference relates to a matter which the Council is dealing, giving a reference is acceptable, provided there is no potential conflict. Therefore if matter is due for consideration by a Committee, it is acceptable to provide personal advocacy, if it is made clear in what capacity the Member is acting. It is appropriate to seek advice beforehand from the Monitoring Officer in such circumstances. Members expressed support for this aspect of the guidance.

Member Training  ...  view the full minutes text for item 29.

Which in the opinion of the Chairman is of sufficient urgency as to warrant consideration.

None.

The Committee is invited to pass the following resolution:

That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of information as defined in Schedule 12A of the said Act.

RESOLVED: That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of information as defined in Schedule 12A of the said Act.

Of the meeting held on 11^th November 2020 to be approved and signed.

RESOLVED: That the minutes (exempt items) of the meeting held on 11^th  November 2020 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To advise the Committee of an upheld complaint by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman.

The Monitoring Officer advised the Committee of an upheld complaint by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman. The findings had not yet been published by the Ombudsman and the matter was therefore considered in private.

RESOLVED: That the Committee note the report.