To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 15 February 2011.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 15 February 2011 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies had been received from Maxine O’Mahony, Monitoring Officer.

To note whether the Chairman proposes to accept any item as urgent business pursuant to Section 100(B)(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972.

None.

Members are asked at this stage to declare any interests that they may have in any of the following items on the agenda.  The Members’ Code of Conduct requires that declarations include the nature of the interest and whether it is a personal or prejudicial interest.

No declarations were made.

To note the names of any non-members wishing to address the meeting.

None.

To receive a verbal report on any matters discussed at the Norfolk Monitoring Officers meeting held on 23 March 2011, with particular reference to joint working for Standards Committees.

The Solicitor & Standards Consultant had attended the meeting on behalf of the Monitoring Officer and he updated Members on the meeting which had been held at County Hall on 23 March 2011. 

There had been general and wide ranging discussions about a variety of topics including the following:

Localism Bill

The Bill was expected to become law in December 2011 and the Standards Regime was due to end two months later, but would exist until any outstanding investigations had been completed.  Any Standards for England investigations would revert back to the Local Authority.  Suspension would no longer be available as a sanction.

There were no draft regulations yet and it was hoped that they would be available within the next few months.  Information was needed on how the new criminal offence for failure to make declarations would work.

Countywide Voluntary Code for Norfolk

Officers had supported the possibility of introducing such a Code and also the possibility of a Joint Standards Committee for Norfolk which could save costs.  It was possible to delegate powers to such a committee, but the Solicitor was not sure that the Council would choose to do so.

Independent Members

All Monitoring Officers thought that Independent Members were valuable and provided a different perspective and were good for public perception.

Complaints

There had been a big increase in the numbers of complaints.  It was not known if the increase was because of the upcoming elections or because Standards had been in the news.  Costs might increase due to the extra work.

Pre-Determination at Planning & Licensing

The wording in the Localism Bill might be difficult to work and might make virtually no difference to the law.

Parish Councils

If there was no voluntary code it was likely that the problems between Parish Councillors and Clerks would cause more difficulty in future.

A Member pointed out that Parish Clerks had their own association which could give them advice, guidance and support.

Officer/Member Protocols

It was likely that some codes would be amalgamated with other Councils in future.  Norfolk County Council’s Legal Department was going to provide a Standards Committee report template.

A Member said that there was some useful discussions at the meeting and he asked if there was a mechanism to pass that on to the Decision Makers as they ought to be aware of what was said by the Monitoring Officers.

The Solicitor agreed to pass a note to the Monitoring Officer for discussion with the Leader of the Council.

It was also suggested that the note should be discussed at the next Standards Committee meeting and that any recommendations from that meeting, with regard to the Voluntary Code, Independent Members, etc, could be passed on to the Leader to provide a steer as early as possible after the election.

To review the position on which Members will be likely to be available immediately after the Elections on 5 May 2011, and to discuss the need for further recruitment.

It was noted that Mrs Maggie Oechsle had resigned as a Parish Councillor and was therefore no longer eligible to sit on the Standards Committee. 

At the Annual meeting of the Council on 12 May 2011 the membership of Committees would be agreed.  With regard to the Standards Committee three District Councillors would be appointed. 

Of the three Parish Councillors only one would remain due to the resignation of Mrs Oechsle, and Mr Whittley not standing for re-election.  Mr Rayner was standing and if successfully re-elected would remain on the Committee.  Two new Parish Council Members would then need to be recruited.

Of the three Independent Members, the Chairman would be standing down and at a previous meeting of the Committee it had been agreed and ratified by Council, that her seat would be replaced deleted.  The two remaining Independent Members had terms of office extending to May 2012.

The Solicitor was concerned that there were already five sub-committee reviews requested and that there was a legally specified three month time limit in which to deal with such matters.

Membership of the review committees had to be different from that of the assessment sub-committees and so at least one Parish Council vacancy would need to be filled as early as possible.  He asked Members for their suggestions on how to get people to apply.

After discussion it was agreed that the Standards Officer would send a letter to all Parish Clerks advising them of the vacancies.<1>  The letter would contain information about the Standards Committee and the Clerks would be asked to pass that information to any interested Parish Councillors.  Any volunteers would be provided with application forms.

Applications would then be put to the Standards Committee on 17 May and a Sub-Committee could be delegated at that meeting to make a recommendation to Council on 23 June.

It was therefore RESOLVED that:

(1)               a letter would be sent to all Parish Clerks, after the close of nominations on 4 April 2011, requesting applications to fill the Parish Council vacancies;

(2)               if sufficient applications were received one criterion for selection should be at least four year’s experience as a Parish Councillor

(3)               a sub-Committee of three Members be appointed at the next meeting to make recommendation to Council on 23 June 2011.

To note items for inclusion on future agendas.

The following items were suggested:

• To provide a steer for the Leader of the Council on the future of Standards
• Parish Councillor appointments

It was agreed to extend the current programme of proposed dates for sub-Committees (usually on the first Tuesday of each month).

The Solicitor wanted to officially say goodbye to Mrs Maggie Oeschle and Mr Malcolm Whittley and to thank them for their time as Members of the Standards Committee.

Mr Whittley thanked the other Members and said that he was sorry to go.  He thanked the Chairman for the way in which she had chaired the meetings and the Solicitor for his advice and guidance.

The Solicitor also wished to thank the Chairman, Mrs Joan Jenkins, for all her efforts over the last eight years.  He said she had been a very good and supportive Chairman.

Mr Eveling agreed and said that he had learned a lot from the very quiet and measured way that the Chairman had conducted business and the depth of knowledge that she had.

Flowers were presented to Mrs Jenkins and a small gift was presented to Mr Whittley.

Mrs Jenkins hoped that no Members had been made to feel uncomfortable as there had been some difficult moments.  She thanked John Chinnery as Solicitor, Sue Allen as Standards Officer and the present and past Committee Officers for their help and support.

To note the date of the next meeting on 17 May 2011 at 2.15pm in the Anglia Room.

The arrangements for the next meeting on 17 May 2011 were noted.