Issue - meetings

To note the Sub-Committee’s terms of reference:-

Audit and Governance (Hearing) Sub-Committees for the consideration of Code of Conduct Issues

(a)        The Audit and Governance Committee shall arrange that, to the extent it is called upon to determine any allegation relating to a Member Code of Code (including that of a Town Council or a Parish Council), the determination shall be made by a Sub-Committee of the Audit and Governance Committee.  An Audit and Governance Sub-Committee with such responsibility may include non-Members.  An Audit and Governance Sub-Committee that has non-Members forming part of it shall not have any power relating to the regulation and/or control of the finances of the Council.

(b)        Substitutes may only be appointed to an Audit and Governance Sub-Committee from the membership of the Audit and Governance Committee.  There shall be no power to appoint non Member substitutes.

To note the Dorset Council Member Complaint Process (attached).

The Sub-committee noted the Terms of Reference and the process for complaints.  

To consider a recommendation from the Audit & Governance Committee.

The Chairman of the Audit & Governance Committee set out the recommendations from the Audit and Governance Committee.

Proposed: Cllr Matt Hall

Seconded: Cllr Clare Sutton

Decision:

1.         To adopt the Local Government Association Model Councillor Code of Conduct including those provisions of the Model Code relating to other registrable interests.

2.         That Dorset’s Town and Parish Councils be invited to consider adopting the LGA Model Code.

3.         To adopt the proposed new arrangements for dealing with Code of Conduct complaints against Councillors.

Reason for Decision:

To support councillors in maintaining high standards of conduct and to ensure a proportionate approach to the assessment and hearing of complaints against councillors.

To consider a report by Jonathan Mair, Corporate Director, Legal & Democratic.

Jonathan Mair, Corporate Director of Legal & Democratic presented a report on proposals to adopt the new Local Government Association Model Councillor Code of Conduct and new arrangements for dealing with Code of Conduct complaints against councillors.   The committee was supportive of all of the recommendations and the Corporate Director agreed to look at the most suitable meeting date for submitting the annual monitoring report to the committee as there was no scheduled meeting in May.

Recommendation to Full Council

1.         That the Local Government Association Model Councillor Code of Conduct including those provisions of the Model Code relating to other registrable interests be adopted;

2.         That Dorset’s Town and Parish Councils be invited to consider adopting the LGA Model Code;

3.         That the proposed new arrangements for dealing with Code of Conduct complaints against councillors be adopted.

Decision

That the committee be updated at each of its meetings about code of conduct

Complaints received and that an annual monitoring report should be

presented to the committee each year.