Agenda and minutes

To comply with the Local Government Act 2000 and the guidance provided by the Standards Board of England on composition of Committees, the Standards Committee should have a chair who is an independent Member.

Since the recruitment of the independent Members is being considered elsewhere on this Agenda, a Chairman needs to be appointed for this meeting and any subsequent ones before the independent members are in post.

Report of the Governance Group attached.

It was reported that in order to comply with the Local Government Act 2000, and guidance from the Standards Board for England, the Standards Committee should have a Chairman who was an Independent Member.  A Chairman was therefore appointed for the period prior to the recruitment of the Committee’s Independent Members.  

RESOLVED

That Councillor Lesley Smetham be appointed Chairman of the Cheshire East Standards Committee for this meeting and any subsequent meetings before the independent members are in post.

To provide an opportunity for Members and Officers to declare any personal and prejudicial interests in any item on the agenda.

None.

In accordance with Rules 11 and 35 a total period of 10 minutes is allocated for members of the public to address the Committee on any matter relating to its work.

Individual members of the public may speak for up to 5 minutes but the Chairman will decide how the period of time allocated for public speaking will be apportioned where there are a number of speakers.

(Note: In order for officers to undertake any background research it would be helpful if questions were submitted at least one working day before the meeting.)

No questions were received.

To receive a report on the role and functions of the Committee and the matters it must deal with leading up to 1 April 2009.

Report of the Governance Group attached.

Consideration was given to the role and function of the Committee, and to those matters it would need to deal with in the period leading up to 1 April 2009.  In addition a draft Work Programme was circulated at the meeting and this set out the main items to be dealt with each month. 

RESOLVED

1. That the terms of reference be noted.
2. That the role of the Committee be noted in respect of Parish Councils in the period up to 1 April 2009.
3. That approval be given to the Work Programme circulated for the year 2008/2009.

To agree the process for the recruitment of the Committee’s Independent and Parish Council representatives.

Report of the Governance Group attached.

Consideration was given to the process for the recruitment of the Committee’s Independent and Parish Council representatives.  The report detailed the different recruitment options available and set out suggested job descriptions and person specifications for each; in considering these it was requested that the wording of each be looked at to ensure that the terminology between the two was consistent. It was anticipated that the interviews for the Independent Members would be carried out during August.

RESOLVED

1. That approval be given to recruit Independent Members from the existing pool of Borough, and County Council Independent members.

2. That the job description and person specification for Independent Members be approved.

3. That Councillors John Hammond, Mike Parsons and Lesley Smetham (Deputy Councillor Rhoda Bailey) be appointed to a Panel of Members of the Committee to interview and recommend the appointment of the Independent Members to the Committee and to the Shadow Council. 

4. That the Cheshire Association of Local Councils be requested to conduct a nomination process for the recruitment of Parish Council representatives with one nomination coming from each of the three existing Districts.

5. That approval be given to the job description and person specification for the Parish Council representatives subject to the wording being brought into line with that for the Independent Members.

To identify the initial steps to take in the promotion of high ethical standards and the associated training and awareness requirements.

Report of the Governance Group attached.

Consideration was given to the initial steps to be taken to promote high standards within Cheshire East Council and the associated training and awareness requirements.

The Committee agreed with the suggestion that the Governance Group be asked to offer detailed sessions on the Code of Conduct for all Cheshire East Councillors, and requested that Members be asked which aspects in particular they would like to be included in the training.  In addition it was requested that sessions should be included on declarations of interest, whistle blowing/anti bullying.  With particular reference to the Standards Committee it was requested that training be given on disciplinary procedures, to include case studies of a Standards Committee hearing, and training on face-to-face sessions.

RESOLVED

That the report be approved and that training sessions be arranged to include the items now detailed.

To consider the dates and times of future meetings of the Committee.

It was noted that the meeting of the Committee programmed to be on 14 October 2008 clashed with the Standards Board for England’s Annual meeting.  It was therefore agreed that it be held instead on 7 October 2008, starting at 10.00 am.

RESOLVED

That the next meeting of the Committee be held on 7 October 2008 at 10.00 am.