Agenda and minutes

Constitutional Review Working Party - Thursday, 1st September, 2022 7.00 pm

Venue: Council Chamber, Cecil Street, Margate, Kent

Contact: Gabriella Stewart 

Link: This meeting will be live streamed

Media

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies for Absence

    Minutes:

    There were no apologies for absence.

2.

Declarations of Interest pdf icon PDF 113 KB

    To receive any declarations of interest.  Members are advised to consider the advice contained within the Declaration of Interest advice attached to this Agenda.  If a Member declares an interest, they should complete the Declaration of Interest Form 

     

    Minutes:

    There were no declarations of interest.

3.

Minutes of Previous Meeting pdf icon PDF 190 KB

    To approve the Minutes of the Constitutional Review Working Party meeting held on 23 February 2022, copy attached.

    Minutes:

    The Chair proposed, Councillor Ashbee seconded and the Working Party agreed that the minutes of the meeting held on 23 February 2022 were a correct record.

4.

Revised Members Code of Conduct pdf icon PDF 89 KB

    • View the background to item 4.

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

    Mr Hughes, Committee Services Manager, introduced the item to get the opinions of the councillors on changes to the code of conduct. He explained that the LGA had published a new model code of conduct for Councillors and that this was the basis of the changes being proposed to the “Kent code” of conduct. The “Kent code” was created and maintained by the Kent Secretaries group, composed of all of the monitoring officers in Kent.

     

    He confirmed that versions of the “Kent code” were used throughout Kent and the changes were detailed in the report provided. Mr Hughes wanted to give particular attention to the follow subjects:

     

    -  Limits on Gifts and Hospitality -

    Currently councillors must declare receipt of gifts of £25 and over, but under the new Code of Conduct, it was suggested that the limit be changed to  £100 and over.

     

    -  Definition of Antisemitism -

    TDC currently has a definition of antisemitism in it’s current code of conduct, but the revised one did not, but members might wish to retain it.

     

    Mr Hughes later confirmed a code of conduct was applicable to all three tiers of local government. The code agreed by TDC would apply to the district and parishes in Thanet. 

    There was some debate regarding the gifts amongst the committee with Councillor Ashbee asking when the £25 was set originally. Mr Hughes replied that the £25 limit was set in 2012 and that it was reduced from £50 at the time.

     

    Councillor Hart proposed, Councillor Ashbee seconded and the Working Party agreed:

     

    “To recommend the changes to the Code of Conduct as outlined in the report with the following amendments:

     

    To set the level of gift and hospitality declaration to £100.

    To retain the definition of anti-semitism from the current TDC code of conduct.”

5.

Revised Complaints Arrangements pdf icon PDF 131 KB