Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED

That Councillor Tricia Youtan be elected Chairman of the Committee for the ensuing Council year.

RESOLVED

That Councillor David Coldwell be appointed Vice-Chairman of the Committee for the ensuing Council year.

RESOLVED

That meetings of the Committee be held at 10.00am for the ensuing Council year.

To approve as correct the minutes of the meeting held on 16^th March 2016

The minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 16^th March 2016 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman

To receive any declarations of interest from Members of the Committee

There were no declarations of interest.

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 meeting of the Local Assessment Sub-Committee held on 16th March 2016

The minutes of the meeting of the Local Assessment Sub-Committee held on 16^th March 2016 were received.  

The Monitoring Officer presented two versions of the Register of Interest Form.  This form was used to gather information from Members in order to maintain a Register of Interests of Members, as required by Section 29 of the Localism Act 2011. 

The form currently asked for more information than was necessary to comply with the requirements of the Act and at the meeting in March 2016 the Committee had requested that the Monitoring Officer design an alternative form for consideration by the Committee.

The Committee considered the detailed version currently used by the Council and an alternative briefer version that requested only information relating to Disclosable Pecuniary interests, as required under the Localism Act.

The committee considered the alternative Register of Interest forms and concluded that the current version of the form was sufficient.

RESOLVED

That the revised Register of Interest Form relating to Disclosable Pecuniary Interests not be adopted by the council and that the current form continue to be used.

The Monitoring Officer presented the report on developments in the ethical framework that affected the role and activities of Councillors and the Council’s business.

Training and awareness:   The Ethical Governance training for Members, which had taken place on 10^th March, had been repeated for Parish Clerks on 21st April. Further training for Parish Councillors in Steyning had been arranged for July. Training in Complaint Assessment had been arranged for those members of the Committee who wished to receive it.

Local assessment, other action, investigations and determinations:  Members noted the large increase in the number of complaints.  

Work Programme update:  Members agreed to remove item 6 from the Work Programme.

RESOLVED

That the contents of the report be noted.

REASONS

(i)            To ensure that the Committee, the Members of the Council and others to whom the report is circulated are kept up to date with developments in the ethical framework. 

(ii)          To promote and maintain high standards of conduct amongst Members.