Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Adebola Adebayo.  Councillor Radford was elected to Chair the meeting in his absence.

There were none.

To agree as a correct record.

These were agreed as a correct record.

RESOLVED –

That the minutes of the previous meeting be agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

The Sub-Committee considered the report of the Director: Legal and Democratic Services which proposed the work programme for 2019-20.  During the presentation of the report the following points were highlighted:

1.      A report would return which would set out the current position, what the LGA peer review had recommended and a way forward. Also included would be the member/officer protocol and the process for confidential information.

2.      It was important to avoid duplication with the Member Development Group.

3.      Member’s suggestions for topics for training and development included the budget, policy changes, GDPR, Casework and roles within Outside Bodies.

4.      It was suggested that some training needs could be combined with other authorities.

5.      With reference to confidentiality and the management of information suggestions included a clause within the Declaration of Office and consideration of privy Councillor status for some Members who would have enhanced access to confidential/exempt information.

RESOLVED: The proposed work programme was agreed.

The Sub Committee considered a report of the Service Director: Legal and Democratic Services setting out details of dispensations to the elected Mayor and councillors in respect of disclosable pecuniary interests (DPIs) to enable them to participate in discussion and vote on matters in relation to the civic budget and the setting of the council tax at the Full Council budget meeting (such dispensations to be granted for the Full Council budget meeting only). 

In discussion, whilst noting that it was the responsibility of each individual councillor to complete their entry in the register of interests, it was suggested that checks to the register should be prompted more frequently and that guidance to Councillors should be issued.  It was also noted that following concerns expressed, officers would check the register entries for accuracy and completeness.

With reference to sensitive interests, it was confirmed that the Monitoring Officer made the final decisions and held full records.

A note would be also sent to all Members to remind them to ensure they were up to date on council tax payments.

Noting and taking account of the above, it was

RESOLVED –

That, in relation to the Full Council budget meeting, dispensations be granted to the Mayor / councillors in respect of their disclosable pecuniary interests.

Concern was raised regarding the Council position on basic DBS checks for Members due to the varied nature of the role.  Officers agreed that the issue was complex and that basic checks would commence as soon as possible with the discussion returning to the Sub Committee in the summer.

Subsequent to the meeting it can be confirmed that Terms of Reference were appended to the report to confirm the addition of constitutional changes to the Audit Committee terms of reference.