Agenda and draft minutes

Agenda and draft minutes

Venue: Virtual meeting

Contact: Sandra Hancock  Email: democraticservices@watford.gov.uk

Media

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies for Absence / Committee Membership

Minutes:

There were no apologies for absence.

2.

Minutes

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 25 February 2020.

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on 25 February 2020 were agreed.

3.

LGA Model Code of Conduct pdf icon PDF 357 KB

Report of the Group Head of Democracy and Governance

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The committee received a report of the Group Head of Democracy and Governance including the draft model code of conduct proposed by the Local Government Association (LGA).

 

The Group Head of Democracy and Governance explained that the draft model code of conduct had been produced following a report by the Committee for Standards in Public Life.  The report had been considered by this committee in February 2020 and the council had responded to consultation on the code.  The draft model code of conduct had been attached for members’ consideration.  It had been suggested that the same code be used across the county to enable those that had member roles on the county council and district councils to have one consistent code to follow.

 

The Group Head of Democracy and Governance commented that the model code was not very different from the council’s current code.  One of the main differences was the inclusion in the model code of ‘bringing the council into disrepute’.

 

Members welcomed the new code and asked the Group Head of Democracy and Governance questions related to it. 

 

The Group Head of Democracy and Governance advised that the code would be reviewed annually by the LGA and if there were any changes in primary legislation that affected the code then the code would be updated to reflect the new legislation.  Any changes would initially be presented to Standards Committee for the members’ views.  With reference to training, this was carried out by the Group Head of Democracy and Governance for all new councillors as part of their induction; other members were also welcome to attend for a refresher.  Following questions about arbitration, the Group Head of Democracy and Governance advised that the council had agreed a set of protocols which were followed.  It was noted that the Independent Persons were not invited to Standards Committee as it was not part of their role.

 

RESOLVED

 

that Standards Committee recommends to Council the adoption of the LGA Model Code of Conduct.

4.

Exclusion of Press and Public

The Chair to move: that, under Section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public and press be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business as it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the public were present during consideration of the items there would be disclosure to them of exempt information as defined in Section 100(1) of the Act for the reasons stated below in terms of Schedule 12A.

 

Note: if approved, the Chair will ask members of the press and public to leave the meeting and the live stream will be stopped

Minutes:

RESOLVED

 

that, under Section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public and press be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business as it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the public were present during consideration of the items there would be disclosure to them of exempt information as defined in Section 100(1) of the Act for the reasons stated in the agenda in terms of Schedule 12A.

5.

Nomination for Honorary Freeman of the Borough

Report of the Group Head of Democracy and Governance

 

Paragraph 1, Schedule 12A

Minutes:

The committee received a report of the Group Head of Democracy and Governance including a proposal from Mayor Taylor for a nomination to the position of Honorary Freeman of the Borough.

 

Mayor Taylor presented his nomination, which members discussed.

 

RESOLVED

 

that the nomination be recommended to an Extraordinary Council meeting.

 

6.

Complaints Against Councillors in 2020

Report of the Group Head of Democracy and Governance

 

Paragraph 1, Schedule 12A

Minutes:

The committee received a report of the Group Head of Democracy and Governance setting out details of complaints received against councillors during 2020.

 

RESOLVED

 

that the report be noted.

 

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