Agenda and minutes

To elect a Chairman for the meeting.

Councillor Lacey-Clarke was elected as Chairman for the meeting of the Sub-committee.

To receive any declarations of interest.

There were no declarations of interest.

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

Audit and Governance (Assessment) 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).

All present noted the Assessment Sub-committee Terms of Reference and Dorset Council Member Complaint process.

To consider any items of business which the Chairman has had prior notification and considers to be urgent pursuant to section 100B (4) b) of the Local Government Act 1972. The reason for the urgency shall be recorded in the minutes.

There were no urgent items.

To move the exclusion of the press and the public for the following items in view of the likely disclosure of exempt information within the meaning of paragraph 1 of schedule 12 A to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

The public and the press will be asked to leave the meeting whilst the items of business are considered.

 Decision

That the press and the public be excluded for the following item(s) in view of the likely disclosure of exempt information within the meaning of paragraphs 1 and 2 of schedule 12 A to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

To consider an exempt report by the Monitoring Officer. NOT FOR PUBLICATION

The sub-committee noted a complaint made against a number of councillors that had been received by the Monitoring Officer.

Decision

That the Monitoring Officer appoint an officer of the Council to investigate the complaint, but limited to the four named councillors who were members of the Council referred to in the complaint, at the time of the events giving rise to the complaint.

To consider an exempt report by the Monitoring Officer. NOT FOR PUBLICATION

The sub-committee noted a complaint that had been received by the Monitoring Officer and considered the information that had been provided including the report of an independent person appointed by Dorset Council.

Decision

That the complainant be informed that no further action is to be taken in connection with the complaint.

To consider an exempt report by the Monitoring Officer. NOT FOR PUBLICATION

The sub-committee noted a complaint that had been received by the Monitoring Officer and considered the information that had been provided including the report of an independent person appointed by Dorset Council.  In addition to this complaint, an additional and related complaint had been received, which was also to be considered by the sub-committee.

Decision

That the complainants be informed that no further action is to be taken in connection with the complaints.