Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Leader of the Council

The report details options for the future ethical framework in Stockport following the enactment of the Localism Act 2011. This report invites the Council Meeting to consider whether to retain a Standards Committee and the appointment of an “Independent Person”.

The Executive is requested to recommend approval of the following proposals to the Council Meeting on 22 March 2012:

1.    The Council Meeting is recommended to retain a Standards Committee comprising of:

i)       such number of Councillors (at least four) as may be determined by the Annual Council Meeting;

ii)      such number of Independent members as may be sufficient to ensure a majority of Independent Members;

iii)    Substitutes should not be permitted.

2.    The Chair and Vice-Chair of the Standards Committee should both be Independent Members.

3.    The Standards Committee should be exempt from the proportionality calculation under the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.

4.    The Council Meeting is recommended to appoint one Sub Committee to hold a hearing at which the member complained of may respond to the investigation report and the Sub Committee can determine whether the member did fail to comply with the Code and what action, if any is appropriate. The Sub Committee should comprise of five members of the Standards Committee.

5.    The quorum for meetings of the Standards Committee or Sub Committee shall be 3 members including a majority of independent members. 

6.    The Council Meeting is recommended to appoint two ‘Independent Persons’ and that an allowance should be paid (and although outside the Members Allowance Scheme, the Independent Remuneration Panel be requested to consider what an appropriate allowance might be).

7.    That the Monitoring Officer be authorised to commence the advertisement process as soon as possible to ensure that the role is filled when the new provisions come into force, with a Panel consisting of the Monitoring Officer, and two members of the Standards Committee to short-list and interview candidates and to make a recommendation to Council Meeting on appointment.

8.    Those candidates should have a good understanding of the Standards Regime/ providing advice.

Officer contact: Craig Ainsworth, 0161 474 3204, craig.ainsworth@stockport.gov.uk

The Deputy Leader of the Council submitted a report a report of the Leader of the Council (copies of which had been circulated) detailing options for the future ethical framework in Stockport following the enactment of the Localism Act 2011. This report invited the Council Meeting to consider whether to retain a Standards Committee and the appointment of an “Independent Person”.

Mr Stephen Clarke (Chair of the Standards Committee) attended the meeting and presented the report. He explained that together with the Monitoring Officer he had met individually with the Group Leaders to discuss the implications of the Localism Act, and the Standards Committee had established a Working Party to propose arrangements to the Council Meeting which would comply with the Standards requirements as set out in the Localism Act.

RESOLVED – (1) That the Council Meeting be recommended to approve following proposals:-

(i) To retain a Standards Committee comprising of:

(a)       four councillors appointed on a politically proportionate basis as may be determined by the Annual Council Meeting;

(b)       such number of Independent members as may be sufficient to ensure a majority of Independent Members;

(c)       Substitutes should not be permitted.

(ii) The Chair and Vice-Chair of the Standards Committee should both be Independent Members.

(iii) The Standards Committee should be exempt from the proportionality calculation under the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.

(iv) Appoint one Sub Committee to hold a hearing at which the member complained of may respond to the investigation report and the Sub Committee can determine whether the member did fail to comply with the Code and what action, if any is appropriate. The Sub Committee should comprise of five members of the Standards Committee.

(v) The quorum for meetings of the Standards Committee or Sub Committee shall be 3 members including a majority of independent members. 

(vi) Appoint two ‘Independent Persons’ and that an allowance should be paid (and although outside the Members Allowance Scheme, the Independent Remuneration Panel be requested to consider what an appropriate allowance might be).

(vii) Authorise the Monitoring Officer to commence the advertisement process as soon as possible to ensure that the role is filled when the new provisions come into force, with a Panel consisting of the Monitoring Officer, and two members of the Standards Committee to short-list and interview candidates and to make a recommendation to Council Meeting on appointment.

(viii) Those candidates should have a good understanding of the Standards Regime/ providing advice.

(2) That the thanks of the Executive be extended to the Chair and members of the Standards Committee for the report and the work undertaken by them.