Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 10 July 2012

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 10 July 2012 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Members and officers to declare any interests which they have in any of the items on the agenda for the meeting.

Members and officers to declare any interests which they have in any of the items on the agenda for the meeting..

The following interest was declared:

Personal Interest

Councillor                 Interest

Syd Lloyd                  Item 6 “Application for Dispensation” as the Councillor making the application was a member of the Conservative Group.

Members of the public are invited to put questions to the Chair of the Committee 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 prior to the commencement of the meeting on the cards provided. These are available the meeting and at local libraries and information centres.  You can also submit via the Council’s website at www.stockport.gov.uk/publicquestions.

No questions were submitted.

The Chair reported that the Council Meeting had appointed Mr Andrew Stewart and reappointed Mrs Julie Carter as Independent Members on the Standards Committee.

He also reported that the Council Meeting had appointed Mrs Valerie Cottam and Mr Mark Iveson as Independent Persons to advise on Standards issues.

He reported that the quality of the applicants had been extremely strong and congratulated the above on their appointment.

To consider a report of the Monitoring Officer in relation to a request received for a dispensation.

The Monitoring Officer submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) relating to a request for a dispensation received from Councillor Paul Bellis in relation to neighbourhood policing issues which are routinely discussed at the Bramhall & Cheadle Hulme South Area Committee.

Councillor Bellis was currently employed as a Police Community Support Officer by Greater Manchester Police and therefore had a “Disclosable Pecuniary Interest” when policing issues were being discussed and was not able to participate in any discussion. This prevented Councillor Bellis from raising community safety issues on behalf of constituents.

Mr Khan reported that the Council Meeting had agreed that this Committee would consider any requests for dispensations.

RESOLVED – (1) That a dispensation be granted to Councillor Paul Bellis until May 2015 (and whilst not deployed in Stockport) to enable him to stay and speak in relation to neighbourhood policing issues discussed at the Bramhall & Cheadle Hulme South Area Committee, but not to vote.

(2) That the Democratic Services Manager be requested to remind all Councillors of the importance of declaring appropriate interests both on the Register of Members’ Interests Form and at meetings.