Agenda and minutes

These were done.

Apologies were received from Councillor Brain, Bowden-Jones, Clough (Councillor Negus as substitute), Radford (Councillor Gollop as substitute) and from Independent Members Simon Cookson and Adebola Adebayo.

The Chair, Councillor Stevens, declared that, as a result of the issues around the Corona Virus, the meeting would only consider the items on the agenda that required a decision.

To note any declarations of interest from the Councillors.  They are asked to indicate the relevant agenda item, the nature of the interest and in particular whether it is a disclosable pecuniary interest.

Any declarations of interest made at the meeting which is not on the register of interests should be notified to the Monitoring Officer for inclusion.

None declared.

To agree the minutes of the previous meeting as a correct record.

The minutes were approved as a correct record and it was:-

Resolved – That the minutes be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

This was noted.

Up to 30 minutes is allowed for this item.

Any member of the public or Councillor may participate in Public Forum.  The detailed arrangements for so doing are set out in the Public Information Sheet at the back of this agenda.  Public Forum items should be emailed to democratic.services@bristol.gov.uk and please note that the following deadlines will apply in relation to this meeting:-

Questions - Written questions must be received 3 clear working days prior to the meeting.  For this meeting, this means that your question(s) must be received in this office at the latest by 5 pm on 10 March 2020.

Petitions and Statements - Petitions and statements must be received on the working day prior to the meeting.  For this meeting this means that your submission must be received in this office at the latest by 12.00 noon on 13 March 2020.

This item was heard in open session before Item 16 – Verbal Update on Bristol Energy part heard in exempt session.

To note the work programme.

The Work Programme was noted.

It was agreed that this item be deferred to another meeting. In the meantime members were invited to submit questions to the Clerk who would arrange responses and circulate to the membership.

It was agreed that this item be deferred to another meeting. In the meantime members were invited to submit questions to the Clerk who would arrange responses and circulate to the membership.

Resolved – that the External Audit Update Report be noted.

Resolved – that the Draft Annual Plan for 2020/21 be noted and the final version be considered at the meeting in May.

It was agreed that this item be deferred to another meeting. In the meantime members were invited to submit to questions to the Clerk who would arrange responses and circulate to the membership.

The following points arose from discussion:-

1. It was confirmed that this Code and the Licensing and PSP Codes of Conduct would relate to all members and not just those members of each Committee;

2. Councillor Mead suggested that the ruling party should not chair DC Committees because of the perceived conflict.

On being to the vote it was:-

Resolved - (4 for, 1 abstention) - That the revised Code of Conduct for Development Control Committees be endorsed and  recommended by the Audit Committee to Full Council for adoption at its meeting in May.

Resolved – (4 for, 1 abstention) - That the revised Code of Conduct for Licensing Committee and the new Code of Conduct for PSP Committee be endorsed and recommended by the Audit Committee to Full Council for adoption at its meeting in May.

That under s.100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item(s) of business on the grounds that it (they) involve(s) the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph(s) 3  (respectively) of Part 1 of schedule 12A of the Act.

Resolved - That under s.100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item(s) of business on the grounds that it (they) involve(s) the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph(s) 3  (respectively) of Part 1 of schedule 12A of the Act.

The Committee received an update report from Grant Thornton, External Auditors, and discussion followed.