Agenda and minutes
PDF 102 KBVenue: Meeting Room 5, Town Hall. View directions
Contact: Democratic Services
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To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 4 October 2011 Minutes: The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 4 October 2011 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair. |
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Declarations of Interest Councillors and officers to declare any interests which they have in any of the items on the agenda for the meeting. Minutes: No declarations of interest were made. |
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Urgent Decisions To report any urgent action taken under the Constitution since the last meeting of the Committee. Minutes: No urgent decisions were reported. |
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Public Question Time Members of the public are invited to put questions to the Chair on any matters within the powers and duties of the Committee, subject to the exclusions set out in the Code of Practice. (Questions must be submitted no later than 30 minutes prior to the commencement of the meeting on the card provided. These are available at the meeting and at local libraries and information centres. You may also submit your question by email to democratic.services@stockport.gov.uk). Minutes: No questions were submitted. |
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Maintaining Ethical Standards in Local Government To consider a report of the Monitoring Officer.
The report provides a update on the statutory legislation for the future ethical framework for local government following the enactment of the Localism Act 2011 and announcements from the Department for Communities and Local Government on the timescale for introducing the new framework.
The Standards Committee is asked to
(1) note the update;
(2) discuss the implications for the Council and provide observations to the Council Meeting as its views on the future shape of the standards regime for the Council.
Officer contact Steve Callender, Head of Democratic Governance on 0161 474 3184 or email steve.callender@stockport.gov.uk Minutes: The Monitoring Officer submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on the statutory legislation for the future ethical framework for local government following the enactment of the Localism Act 2011 and announcements from the Department for Communities and Local Government on the timescale for introducing the new framework.
In particular he reported that the Act required:
· The Council Meeting to adopt a Code of Conduct. · The Council would need to define within the Code, pecuniary and non-pecuniary interests. · The Council would need to determine who would grant dispensations relieving a member or co-opted member from the restrictions set out in the Code of Conduct. · The Council would need to decide whether to retain a Standards Committee and appoint at least one “independent”. · Failure to declare a pecuniary interest would be a criminal offence.
RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.
(2) That a Working Party be established comprising of Mr Stephen Clarke, Mrs Julie Carter and Mr John Stone to propose arrangements to the Council Meeting which will comply with the Standards requirements as set out in the Localism Act.
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