Agenda and draft minutes

There were no apologies, substitutions, declarations of interest or dispensations declared at the meeting.

Resolved                               -  That, in accordance with Section 100A(4) Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting during the following item, when it would be likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted, or the nature of the proceedings, that there would otherwise be disclosure of exempt information within the Paragraphs at Schedule 12A of the Act specified at the item.

Resolved                               -   That, in accordance with Section 100A(4) Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting during the following item, when it was likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted, or the nature of the proceedings, that there would otherwise be disclosure of exempt information within the Paragraphs at Schedule 12A of the Act specified at the item.

(Exempt information under the Local Government Act 1972, Schedule 12A, Paragraph 1 – Information relating to an individual)

To update Members of the Committee about the progress of the five recent standards investigations.

Recommended                     -  That the Committee considers the reports relating to the investigations and determine the next steps in accordance with paragraph 3.4 of the report.

A report was submitted by the Executive Director (Legal & Democratic Services) to update the Hearing Sub-Committee about the progress of the five recent standards investigations.  The complaints were considered initially by the Council’s Standards Assessment Panel, which concluded that all five complaints should be investigated.  Due to the nature of the complaints, they were referred to a third party for investigation.    The investigation was completed and the conclusions were submitted to Committee who were requested to make a decision on whether any further action should be taken in respect of the complaints.  

Decision of the Hearing Sub-Committee:-

Resolved                 (1)      That the Standards Hearing Sub-Committee found that each of the complaints had been thoroughly investigated.  They found that all parties involved in the complaints had been given a fair opportunity to provide relevant information and respond to findings.  Due to the already thorough nature of the investigations, it was considered that there would be nothing further to be gained, and that it would not be a good use of the Council’s resources nor serve the public interest, to refer any of the complaints to a full Standards Hearing.  The Hearing Sub-Committee was satisfied with, and accepted, the Investigating Officer’s conclusion there had been no breach of the Code of Conduct in respect of each of the five complaints; and

                                 (2)    That the Executive Director (Legal & Democratic Services) sends a letter to the Independent Investigator, on behalf of the Committee, to thank them for the full and thorough investigations into each complaint and well written reports provided to help the Committee to reach decisions on each complaint.