Issue - meetings

Report of the Interim Monitoring Officer attached.

Further to Minute No. 19 of the meeting of the Standards Committee held on 7 December 2017, the Council considered the Annual Report of the Interim Monitoring Officer on the Standards work carried out over the last 12 months.

This included:

·         the appointment of a second Independent Person,

·         the development of a Social Media Protocol,

·         amending the Hearing and Investigation Procedure for Dealing with Complaints,

·          reviewing the Code of Conduct for Elected Members and the development of Guidance relating to it,

·          details of the number of complaints against members that had been dealt with 

The report also contained details of the number of Ombudsman complaints received and Members’ attendance figures.

In respect of the number of complaints lodged in the report, some members raised concerns about potentially vexatious/mischievous complaints. The Interim Monitoring Officer commented that each complaint had to be dealt with on its own merits. 

It was moved by Councillor Linda Woollard, seconded by Councillor Carol Chisholm and

RESOLVED:

That the Standards Committee Annual Report be noted.

Report of the Interim Monitoring Officer attached.

The Council’s Monitoring Officer presented the Annual Report on work carried out over the last 12 months.  This had been a busy and productive year and included; the appointment of a second Independent Person to assist the Monitoring Officer, the development of a Social Media Protocol, amending/updating the Hearing and Investigation Procedure for Dealing with Complaints, reviewing the Code of Conduct for Elected Members and the development of Guidance relating to it.

It had also been a busy year for dealing with complaints against members under the Code of Conduct for Elected Members.

As well as reporting on all of the above information was also provided as to complaints made to the Local Government Ombudsman, and Members’ attendance figures.

Looking forward it was suggested there be specific training for Committee members sitting on Standard Committee Hearing Panels as well as general standards training/awareness raising for all members.  The Committee also felt it would be helpful to have a joint workshop with other neighbouring councils (such as Chorley Borough Council, Lancashire County Council and Preston City Council) to discuss/air current issues and approaches.

RESOLVED (Unanimously) that:

(1)  the Annual Report be noted and be presented to a future meeting of the Council; and

(2)  the Monitoring Officer approach Chorley Borough Council, Lancashire County Council and Preston City Council with a view to holding a joint Standards workshop (possibly held at County Hall).