2002.04.24 - Standards, Minutes

	CHILTERN DISTRICT COUNCIL

	MINUTES of the Meeting of the STANDARDS COMMITTEE

	held on 24 APRIL 2002

PRESENT:

Councillor

I T Gomm

- Chairman

Mrs L M Smith

- Vice-Chairman

Councillor

Miss P A Appleby

P T Priestley

Independent Members

Duncan Backhouse

Mrs Carolyn Langley

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: Town/Parish Representative – Mr F Nolan and Councillor

Ms J E Bramwell.

1. CHAIRMAN AND VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE

It was noted that the Chairman of the Council, Councillor I T Gomm, and the Vice-Chairman of the Council,

Councillor Mrs L M Smith, were ex officio Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Standards Committee.

2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

There were no declarations of interest made.

3.	CODES OF CONDUCT – ADOPTION BY CHILTERN DISTRICT COUNCIL AND TOWN/PARISH COUNCILS – PROGRESS REPORT

The Committee had before it a report indicating the progress made by Chiltern District Council and the Town and Parish Councils in Chiltern District area in adopting local Codes of Conduct.


	The report outlined the principles which had been given to govern the conduct of elected and co-opted members of relevant authorities. Councils were required to adopt Codes of Conduct which incorporated all the mandatory provisions of a relevant Model Code by 5 May 2002. Within 28 days of the adoption of a Code of Conduct, it was necessary for members of Town and Parish Councils to register certain financial and other information and within two months of the date of adoption, to give written undertakings to observe the code. Information on the state of preparedness by the sixteen Parish/Town Councils within Chiltern District at the date of the meeting were as follows:-

Authority

Date of adoption or intended adoption of Code

Last Date for providing details for Register of Interests

Last Date for giving written undertaking to observe the Code

Amersham Town Council

21 January 2002

18 February 2002

21 March 2002

Ashley Green PC

18 April 2002

16 June 2002

18 July 2002

Chalfont St Giles PC

6 February 2002

6 March 2002

6 April 2002

Chalfont St Peter PC

18 March 2002

15 April 2002

18 May 2002

Chartridge PC

Not Known

Chenies PC

Not Known

Chesham Bois PC

8 April 2002

6 May 2002

8 June 2002

Chesham Town Council

28 January 2002

25 February 2002

28 March 2002

Chiltern District Council

8 May 2002

5 June 2002

8 July 2002

Cholesbury-cum-St Leonards PC

25 April 2002

23 May 2002

25 June 2002

Coleshill PC

Not Known

Great Missenden PC

5 May 2002

2 June 2002

5 July 2002

Latimer PC

15 April 2002

13 May 2002

15 June 2002

Little Missenden PC

23 April 2002

21 May 2002

23 June 2003

Penn PC

21 March 2002

18 April 2002

21 May 2002

Seer Green PC

3 April 2002

1 May 2002

3 June 2002

The Lee PC

Not Known

The Committee noted the report.

4.	CODE OF CONDUCT FOR ELECTED AND CO-OPTED MEMBERS – CHILTERN DISTRICT COUNCIL

The Committee was asked to consider the terms of a Code of Conduct for this Council.

The draft Code of Conduct incorporating mandatory provisions of the Model Code had been circulated. It was recommended that this Council adopted a Code which incorporated only the provisions of the Model Code. When the Code had been adopted, it would be necessary for a newspaper advertisement to be placed, and it was suggested that there should be a combined notice incorporating the adoption of the Code by Town and Parish Councils.

Members of the Council would need to enter certain financial and other interests in the Register of Members’ Interests within 28 days of the adoption of the Code. This would take place at the Council meeting on 8 May 2002, and the Committee was reminded that failure on the part of any Member or co-opted Member to give an undertaking to observe the Code of Conduct before 8 July 2002 would result in that member automatically ceasing to hold office.

RECOMMENDED –

That the Code of Conduct for elected and co-opted Members be adopted in the terms set out in Appendix 2.1 of the officers’ report.

That the Head of Legal Services be authorised to place the necessary public advertisement concerning the adoption of the Code of Conduct in the terms required by Section 51(6) of the Local Government Act 2000, such advertisement to incorporate the adoption of Parish/TownCouncil Codes of Conduct.

That the form set out in Appendix 2.2 of the officers’ report for use by Members and co-opted Members of the Council in giving notice to the monitoring officer of the interests that require Entry in the Register of Members’ Interests be approved.

That the requirement imposed on Members and co-opted Members of the Council to undertake to observe the Code of Conduct be noted.

	5. MEMBER TRAINING

	The Committee considered the training requirements of District, Parish and Town Councillors in relation to the new Codes of Conduct and, in particular, the induction training that Members of this Committee might require.

	The Committee accepted that its Members should, as a first step, receive induction training on the ethical requirements of the Code, with particular emphasis on registration and declaration of interests, and the treatment of gifts and hospitality. The training would then be extended further to District, Parish and Town Councillors. It was suggested that a digest was required to assist Members with understanding the new Code of Conduct.

	RESOLVED –

	That a training session be arranged for all Members of this Committee, to take place at the next meeting on Tuesday 7 May commencing at 5 p.m., and that all three Parish Council representatives be invited to attend.


	The meeting ended at 7.20 pm.