Venue: in the Cabinet Room, Pathfinder House, St Mary's Street, Huntingdon PE29 3TN
Contact: Ms C Deller, Democratic Services Manager, Tel No 01480 388007/e-mail: Christine.Deller@huntsdc.gov.
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To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 6th December 2007. Contact: C Deller 388007 Minutes: Subject to the inclusion of Councillor Mrs B E Boddington’s apology for absence, the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 6th December 2007 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman. |
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MEMBERS' INTERESTS To receive from Members declarations as to personal and/or prejudicial interests and the nature of those interests in relation to any Agenda Item. Please see Notes 1 and 2 below. Minutes: No interests were declared. |
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To consider a report by the Director of Central Services and Monitoring Officer seeking the views of the Committee in response to the publication of the consultation paper by the Department of Communities and Local Government. A copy of the consultation paper is appended to Members copies only. Contact: C Deller 388007 Additional documents: Minutes: Members considered a report by the Director of Central Services and Monitoring Officer (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) requesting the views of the Committee in response to a consultation paper published by the Department of Communities and Local Government entitled “Orders and Regulations Relating to the Conduct of Local Authority Members in England”.
The Committee were advised that, principally, the consultation had focused on local authority standards committees becoming responsible for assessing allegations of misconduct against Councillors and had made suggestions as to how the regime could operate via appropriate regulations and orders under the Local Government Act 2000, as amended.
Referring to the proposed responses to the sixteen questions posed by the consultation paper, the Committee welcomed the suggestion that, in one off circumstances, it might be appropriate to establish joint arrangements with other authorities within the County boundaries but accepted that this should not be formalised given the additional resources that might be required to lend support to neighbouring authorities on an ongoing basis.
In terms of the response to question 16 and given the indication that there was to be a separate consultation on further amendments to the Code of Conduct, the Committee were strongly of the view that the proposed implementation date for the revised conduct regime should be 1st September and not 1st April 2008 to enable local authorities sufficient time to make the arrangements necessary to implement the changes proposed by the Government.
Subject to the aforementioned comment, the Committee
RESOLVED
that the responses drafted on behalf of the District Council, by the Director of Central Services and Monitoring Officer, to the consultation paper “Orders and Regulations Relating to the Conduct of Local Authority Members in England” be approved for submission to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.
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NEXT MEETING To note that the next ordinary meeting of the Committee would be held on Thursday 6th March 2008 at 4pm. Minutes: It was noted that the next ordinary meeting of the Committee would be held at 4pm on Thursday 6th March 2008. |