Issue - meetings

To consider the recommendation of the Standards Committee.

The recommendations of the Standards Committee relating to the Standards Regime under the Localism Act were proposed by Cllr Hammond and seconded by Cllr Groves.

RESOLVED

That :-

1              the Council’s existing model code of conduct for elected members and the procedure for the investigation of complaints under the code remain in force on an interim basis until the next meeting of the Council in July 2012, when further recommendations will be brought forward for the adoption of a new code of conduct;

2       the Audit and Governance Committee establish, on an ad-hoc basis, a Sub-committee with delegated powers to deal with standards issues, with effect from the next meeting of the Council in July 2012;

3       the draft terms of reference at Appendix (i) of the report submitted be adopted in respect of the Audit and Governance Sub-committee;

4       the Monitoring Officer be given delegated authority to undertake a recruitment process for up to three Independent Persons as required under Section 28(7) of the Localism Act 2011 once details of the transitional provisions have been received;

5       if necessary, in order to comply with statutory timescales, the Council’s Urgency Sub-committee shall approve the provisional appointment of the Independent Persons subject to formal ratification by the Council at its July meeting; and

6   Members note that work is ongoing to draft a new standards code of conduct with a view to it being adopted across the Cheshire authorities which will include Town and Parish Councils and the Fire Authority.