There were no declarations of interest.

Purpose of report:

To advise the Committee of:

1.      the number and status of complaints received under the Members’ Code of Conduct which have been, or are to be, considered by the Head of Law and Governance (in her statutory capacity as the authority’s Monitoring Officer) in consultation with one of the Council’s Independent Persons. The report also notes the outcome, where complaints have been concluded; and

2.      the number of dispensations to an individual member, granted under Section 33 of the 2011 Localism Act, by the Monitoring Officer, following consultation with an Independent Person.

Recommendation:

That the Standards Committee notes the content of the report.

The Committee had before them a report which advised them of the number and status of complaints received under the Members’ Code of Conduct which have been, or are to be, considered by the Head of Law and Governance (in her statutory capacity as the authority’s Monitoring Officer) in consultation with one of the Council’s Independent Persons.

The Committee were provided with feedback following actions from the previous minutes of the meeting held on 23 November 2022, and were advised by the Head of Law and Governance that of those cases, Code of Conduct training had been arranged but not yet undertaken.  In particular, where recommended that the Subject Councillor provide an apology, this had not yet been undertaken. 

The Committee were made aware of the Local Hearing Panel only being able to make recommendations to the Parish Council, and it being for the Parish Council to impose those sanctions.  It was agreed that the Chair of the Standards Committee would write to all members of Littlemore Parish Council to encourage further discussion on undertaking these sanctions through their own Parish Council meetings.

The Committee thanked the officers and members involved in the Local Hearing Panel.

The Committee is recommended to approve the minutes of the meeting held on 23 November 2022 and the Local Hearing Panel of 11 January 2023.

The Committee approved the minutes of the meeting held on 23 November 2022 and the Local Hearing Panel of 11 January 2023.

The Committee received verbal feedback on the outstanding actions confirmed by the Chair of the Parish Council.

The Committee thanked Susan Sale for all her hard work supporting the Committee and wished her luck in the future.

The Committee is scheduled to meet at 6.00pm on the following dates:

·       10 July 2023

·       16 November 2023

·       12 March 2024

The Committee noted the dates and times of future meetings.