Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 3 September 2013.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 3 September 2013 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

No declarations of interest were made.

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 public questions were submitted.

To report any urgent action taken under the Constitution since the last meeting of the Committee.

No urgent decisions were reported.

To consider a report of the Monitoring Officer.

The report summarises complaints recieved about councillors' conduct since the introduction of the new Code of Conduct provisions of the Localism Act 2011.

Recommendation

That the report be noted.

Officer contact  Craig Ainsworth on telephone number 0161 474 3201  or alternatively email on craig.ainsworth@stockport.gov.uk

The Monitoring Officer submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) summarising complaints received about councillors' conduct since the introduction of the new Code of Conduct provisions of the Localism Act 2011.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Monitoring Officer

The report seeks dispensations for Co-opted members of the Health & Wellbeing Board who have disclosable pecuniary interests which preclude their active partipation in the business of the Board.

Recommendation

The Standards Committee is requested to consider the proposal and determine whether the dispensation should be granted.

Officer contact Craig Ainsworth on telephone number 0161 474 3204 or alternatively email on craig.ainsworth@stockport.gov.uk

The Monitoring Officer submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Committee to consider granting dispensations for Co-opted members of the Health & Wellbeing Board who had disclosable pecuniary interests which precluded their active participation in the business of the Board.

RESOLVED (1) That the dispensation be granted as suggested in Appendix 1 to the report.

(2) That in relation to those non councillors appointed to the Board, interests declared on their Register of Members Interests Form relating to any land they had an interest in within Stockport,  be considered as “sensitive” and details of the interest did not need to be disclosed for the reasons set out in the report.

To consider a report of the Monitoring Officer.

The Standards Committee is invited to consider widening an existing dispensation to enable all members to take part and vote at any meeting when discussing the Council tax, precepts and the Council Tax Discount and Support Scheme.

Recommendation

The Standards Committee agree to widen the existing dispensation which would allow all members to take part and vote at any meeting when discussing the Council Tax Discount and Support Scheme and the Business Rates, Discount and Exemption Scheme.

Officer contact Craig Ainsworth on telephone number 0161 474 3204 or alternatively email craig.ainsworth@stockport.gov.uk

The Monitoring Officer submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Committee to consider widening an existing dispensation to enable all members to take part and vote at any meeting when discussing the Council Tax, Precepts and the Council Tax Discount and Support Scheme.

It was also proposed that members be granted a dispensation in relation to the Business Rates (Discounts and Exemptions) Scheme.

RESOLVED (1) That the existing dispensation be widened to allow all members to take part and vote at any meeting when discussing the Council Tax Discount and Support Scheme and the Business Rate (Discount and Exemption) Scheme.

(2) That in relation to the Council Tax Discount and Support Scheme, such interests as declared by members shall be considered “sensitive” and details of the interest did not need to be disclosed for the reasons set out in the report.