Decision details

As an Independent Member serving on the Standards Committee, the Chairman declared a personal interest in this item (Minute No. 23 refers).

Councillor Campbell spoke under Council Procedure Rule 24.1.

The Chairman expressed disappointment that he had not been consulted on the report prior to publication and despatch.

Councillor Campbell stated that, in his view, the informal Standards Working Party should have had an opportunity to consider the report before the Constitutional Review Working Party.

The Monitoring Officer explained that it had not been possible to engage the Standards Working Party on the report, for reasons set out in paragraph 1.5.  He also pointed out that it now seemed unlikely that Chapter 7 of the Localism Act 2011 would come into full force and effect by 1 July 2011.

All Members of the Working Party felt that, in view of the lateness of receipt of the report, they had not had time to properly consider its contents.

On the proposal of Councillor Nicholson, seconded by Councillor Hayton, it was AGREED TO RECOMMEND to Standards Committee:

1.  that the current Standards committee, sub-committees, processes and Code of Conduct continue until Chapter 7 of the Localism Act 2011 comes into effect;

2.  that the remainder of the report be deferred to enable the Standards Working Party to consider it first  and submit its comments to the Constitutional Review Working Party, prior to onward referral to the Standards Committee and Council.