Issue - meetings

General Dispensations for Councillors

 

 

Meeting: 03/03/2022 - Standards Committee (Item 5)

5 General Dispensations for Councillors pdf icon PDF 163 KB

To consider a report of the Monitoring Officer

 

The report considers what general dispensations ought to be granted to councillors to allow them to participate in council business where they have a disclosable pecuniary interest or personal and prejudicial interest that might otherwise preclude them from consideration of particular decisions.

 

The Standards Committee is requested to grant the dispensations as outlined in Section 4.1 of the report, to all councillors to allow them to participate at Council Meeting and Council committees.

 

Officer Contact: Vicki Bates on 0161 474 3219 or email: vicki.bates@stockport.gov.uk

 

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Strategic Head of Service and Monitoring Officer submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) which considered what general dispensations ought to be granted to councillors to allow them to participate in council business where they have a disclosable pecuniary interest or personal and prejudicial interest that might otherwise preclude them from consideration of particular decisions.

 

The following comments were made/issues raised:

 

·         The Monitoring Officer clarified that this report was in relation to dispensations and whether they should be granted for a further four years.  There was also a further clarification paragraph which related to the Mayoral Development Corporation and that the dispensations required for the Mayoral Development Corporation were not covered in this report.

·         In response to a Member question, the Monitoring Officer clarified that the school governors mentioned in the report referred to all types of governors.

 

1.1.    RESOLVED - That the Standards Committee grant the following dispensations to all councillors to allow them to participate at Council Meeting and Council committees:-

 

Nature of Interest

Dispensation

Exemptions or qualifications

Duration

As recipients of an allowance under the Members’ Allowance Scheme

to enable decisions regarding any allowance, payment or indemnity given to members

 

Until February 2026

As a parent or guardian of a child in full time education, or as a parent governor of a school

to enable decisions regarding school meals or school transport and travelling expenses

that the decision/ matter under consideration does not relate particularly to the school at which the councillor’s child attends

Until February 2026

As tenants of the authority

To enable councillors to make decisions regarding Council housing

that the matter under consideration does not relate particularly to that councillor’s tenancy or lease

Until February 2026

As property owners or those eligible to pay Council Tax

 

To enable councillors to make decisions regarding Council tax precepts and the Council Tax Discount and Support Scheme

 

Until February 2026

Any Disclosable Pecuniary Interest or Personal and Prejudicial Interest in any item forming part of the budget setting process being considered at the Budget Council Meeting only

To enable councillors to participate in these items.

 

Until February 2026