Agenda and minutes

To approve as correct the minutes of the meeting held on 27 September 2017

(Note: If any Member wishes to propose an amendment to the minutes they should submit this in writing to committeeservices@horsham.gov.uk at least 24 hours before the meeting.  Where applicable, the audio recording of the meeting will be checked to ensure the accuracy of the proposed amendment.)

The minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 27 September 2017 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive any declarations of interest from Members of the Committee

Philip Baxter advised that he had recently become Chairman of Billingshurst Community Transport, which on occasion applied for grants from the District Council.

To receive any announcements from the Chairman of the Committee, the Chief Executive or the Monitoring Officer

There were no announcements.

To receive the minutes of the meetings of the Local Assessment Sub-Committee held on 23 August and 27 September 2017

The minutes of the meetings of the Local Assessment Sub-Committees held on 23 August and 27 September 2017 were received.

The Interim Monitoring Officer reported on the Consultation paper issued by the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) regarding proposals to update the criteria disqualifying individuals from standing for or holding office as elected Members or directly-elected Mayors. The existing criteria were set out in the Local Government Act 1972 and the Government considered that the law should be updated to broaden the criteria to reflect current sentencing options.

The Committee noted the proposals in the Consultation paper and were satisfied that the proposals were timely and appropriate. 

The Interim Monitoring Officer reminded Members that the Committee on Standards in Public Life would be undertaking a review of Local Government Standards.  Dr Jane Martin CBE, one of the Lay members on the Committee on Standards in Public Life, touched on this in a speech she gave at the Annual Conference of the National Association of Local Councils in October, stating that the review would commence early in 2018, with publication of its terms of reference and call for evidence.

Members agreed that this forthcoming review would be an opportunity for the Committee to submit its concerns regarding the current Standards Regime, in particular regarding the lack of statutory sanctions.

RESOLVED

That the Consultation proposals be noted.

Items not on the agenda which the Chairman of the meeting is of the opinion should be considered as urgent because of the special circumstances

There was no urgent business.