Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 14 June 2011

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 14 June 2011 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

No declarations of interest were made.

No questions were submitted

To consider a report of the Monitoring Officer (To follow)

To consider a report on the future of the ethical standards framework for Stockport.

Officer contact: Barry Khan, Telephone number 474 3202, email: barry.khan@stockport.gov.uk

The Monitoring Officer submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) updating the Committee on the current debate on the future Ethical Framework in Local Government.  He reminded the Committee that the Coalition Government had previously announced that it would abolish the Standards Board and originally proposed to abolish the mandatory Code of Conduct for Members.

He reported that the Localism Bill had been considered by the House of Lords on 14 September when a number of amendments had been put forward which retained a mandatory Code of Conduct and Standards Committees. The Committee had the opportunity to view extracts from the parliamentary debate.

The Chair reported that together with the Monitoring Officer, he had met the Group Leaders from the three largest parties to discuss the implications of the Localism Bill and it was clear from the meetings that the proposals had been discussed within the individual groups.

RESOLVED (1) That the report and the feedback from the Chair be noted.

(2) That this Committee note the Government’s spokesperson agreement to have a cross party meeting to discuss the exact wording of the bill and the recognition by all parties that there needed to be some amendments and clarification to the Bill before the matter was brought back to the House of Lords.

(3) That the thanks of this Committee be extended to the Chair for his work in meeting the Group Leaders to discuss the proposals in the Localism Bill.