Standards Committee – 21 November 2018

Chairman:    Councillor Poole
Venue:         Function Room 1, Civic Centre, Scunthorpe
Time:           2 pm
E- Mail Address: dean.gillon@northlincs.gov.uk

AGENDA

1.  Substitutions (if any)
2.  Declarations of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests and Personal or Personal and Prejudicial Interests.
3.  To take the minutes of the meeting of the Standards Committee held on 12 September 2018 as a correct record and authorise the chairman to sign.
4.  Renewal of Dispensation – Steel Industry.
5.  Standards Training for Town and Parish Councils. Update by the Monitoring Officer.
6.  Complaints Schedule – Update.
7.  Any other items which the Chairman decides are urgent by reason of special circumstances which must be specified.

Note:  Reports are by the Director: Governance & Partnerships unless otherwise stated.

MINUTES

PRESENT: –  Councillor Poole (in the Chair).

Councillors England (Vice-Chairman), Collinson, Godfrey, Kirk, O’Sullivan and Wells.

Mr Harvie – Co-opted (Non-voting) Member, Mr Johnson – Independent Person

The committee met at the Civic Centre, Scunthorpe

233     DECLARATIONS OF DISCLOSABLE PECUNIARY, PERSONAL OR           PERSONAL AND PREJUDICIAL INTERESTS – There were no declarations of interests made at the meeting.

234     MINUTES – Resolved – That the minutes of the meeting of this committee held on 12 September 2018, having been printed and circulated amongst the members, be taken as read and correctly recorded and be signed by the chairman.

235     ASSESSMENT PANEL PROCEEDINGS – Resolved – That the minutes of the meetings of the Assessment Panel held on 12 September 2018 be received.

236  (7) RENEWAL OF DISPENSATION – The Director: Governance and Partnerships submitted a report requesting that the Standards Committee consider renewing the dispensation granted to all members on 6 November 2015, subsequently renewed on 23 November 2016 and 22 November 2017, concerning motions relating to British Steel (formerly TATA Steel).

The Monitoring Officer explained that the committee had granted a dispensation in November 2015 to enable all members of the council to participate in a motion concerning TATA Steel, now British Steel, at a meeting of full council. This dispensation was extended for a further 12 months by the committee in November 2016 and again in November 2017 to enable all members to discuss and debate issues relating to the steel industry. The terms of the dispensation were set out in the report. As the renewed dispensation was due to expire on 22 November 2018 the committee was asked to consider whether to grant a further dispensation, taking into account the continuing interest in British Steel and the likelihood that the council will continue to discuss relevant issues.

Resolved – That pursuant to section 33 (2) (c) of the Localism Act 2011, the dispensation granted by the committee on 6 November 2015, and subsequently renewed on 23 November 2016 and 22 November 2017, be renewed for a further twelve month period.

237     STANDARDS TRAINING FOR TOWN AND PARISH COUNCILS – The Monitoring Officer gave a short oral update on two forthcoming training sessions, due to take place on 27 November 2018 and 4 December 2018, on the standards regime, local arrangements and governance, The Localism Act 2011, and relevant case law. These training sessions had been offered to the councillors and clerks of all Town and Parish Councils in North Lincolnshire, as well as all members of the Standards Committee and representatives from ERNLLYCA. Confirmed attendance was positive, and previous sessions well-regarded.

Resolved – That the situation be noted.

239     (8) COMPLAINTS SCHEDULE – The Director: Governance and Partnerships submitted a report updating the committee on progress made with complaints received.

The Director updated members on the complaints schedule, confirming that one complaint was under investigation and one complaint would be considered by an Assessment Panel on the rising of the meeting. The remainder of the schedule was up to date.

Resolved – That the report be noted.