Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 3 September 2018.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 3 September 2018 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.

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

No urgent decisions were reported.

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 prior to the commencement of the meeting on the card provided. These are available at the meeting. You can also submit via the Council’s website at www.stockport.gov.uk/publicquestions).

No public questions were submitted.

To consider a report of the Committee of Standards in Public Life (January 2019).

The report of the Committee on Standards in Public Life (January 2019) was submitted (copies of which had been circulated) for the Committee’s consideration.

The Committee on Standards in Public Life advised the Prime Minister on ethical standards across the whole of public life in England. It monitored and reported on issues relating to the standards of conduct of all public office holders and promoted the seven principles of public life, namely Selflessness, Integrity, Objectivity, Accountability, Openness, Honesty and Leadership.

The Localism Act 2011 had introduced significant changes to the way that the conduct of elected Councillors was handled.  The Committee on Standards in Public Life had undertaken to review the effectiveness of the arrangements once they had bedded in. They therefore had undertaken a detailed review during 2018 seeking evidence from all interested stakeholders and had published their recommendations on 30 January 2019, making a number of recommendations and identifying best practice in order to improve ethical standards in local government.

RESOLVED – That a report be submitted to the next meeting of the Committee which includes an assessment of how this Council measures against the best practice identified by the Committee on Standards in Public Life.

To consider a report of the Monitoring Report

The report updates the Committee on the report submitted to the last meeting on Complaints about Councillors’ Conduct during 2017/18.

The Committee is recommended to note the report.

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

The Monitoring Officer submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) updating the Committee on the presentation of a report to the Council Meeting on 29 November 2018 by her predecessor regarding complaints about Councillors’ conduct during 2017/18.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.