Agenda and minutes

To elect a Chairman for the meeting.

It was proposed by Cllr S Cocking, seconded by Cllr B Goringe

 

Decision

 

That Cllr M Hall be elected Chairman.

To receive any declarations of interest.

There were no declarations of interests.

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.

The terms of reference of the Assessment Sub-committee and the Dorset Council Member Complaint process were noted.

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 was one item of urgent business which had been accepted by the Chairman as the complaint related to the same subject matter and Town Council as a complaint already on the agenda for consideration by the Assessment Sub-committee.

To move the exclusion of the press and the public for the following item 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).

 

The public and the press will be asked to leave the meeting whilst the item of business is 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 NOT FOR PUBLICATION

Code of Conduct Complaint 1

 

The Sub-committee considered the details of a complaint that had been submitted to Dorset Council in accordance with the Member Complaint Process.  Members considered all of the information that had been provided including the report of an independent person appointed by Dorset Council.  

 

Decision – unanimous

 

That the complaint be referred for a full investigation in accordance with Dorset Council’s Member Complaints Process.

 

Code of Conduct Complaint 2

 

The Sub-committee considered the details of a complaint that had been submitted to Dorset Council in accordance with the Member Complaint Process.  Members considered all of 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 to be taken in connection with the complaint.

 

Code of Conduct Complaint 3

 

The Sub-committee considered the details of a complaint that had been submitted to Dorset Council in accordance with the Member Complaint Process.  Members considered all of the information that had been provided including the report of an independent person appointed by Dorset Council.  

 

Decision

 

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

(b)  That the complaint be advised to complain direct to the Town Council under the council’s own complaints policy.

 

Code of Conduct Complaint 4

 

The Sub-committee considered the details of a complaint that had been submitted to Dorset Council in accordance with the Member Complaint Process.  Members considered all of 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 to be taken in connection with the complaint.

 

Code of Conduct Complaint 5 – urgent item

 

The Sub-committee considered the details of a complaint that had been submitted to Dorset Council in accordance with the Member Complaint Process.  Members considered all of 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 to be taken in connection with the complaint.