Basingstoke & Dean Borough Council
Councillors:
54
Wards:
18
Committees:
22
Meetings (2025):
67
Meetings (2024):
72
Meeting
Standards Committee - Basingstoke & Dean
Meeting Times
Scheduled Time
Start:
Monday, 12th June 2023
6:30 PM
Monday, 12th June 2023
6:30 PM
End:
Monday, 12th June 2023
9:30 PM
Monday, 12th June 2023
9:30 PM
Actual Time
Started:
Monday, 12th June 2023
12:00 AM
Monday, 12th June 2023
12:00 AM
Finished:
Monday, 12th June 2023
12:00 AM
Monday, 12th June 2023
12:00 AM
Meeting Status
Status:
Confirmed
Confirmed
Date:
12 Jun 2023
12 Jun 2023
Location:
Committee Rooms 1 & 2 - Deanes
Committee Rooms 1 & 2 - Deanes
Webcast:
Available
Available
Meeting Attendees
Reserve
Cabinet Member for Communities, Partnerships and Inclusion
Committee Member
Chair of the Investigating and Disciplinary and Standards Appeals Committee
Committee Member
Deputy Mayor and Chair of the Resident Services Committee
Chair
Ms V Murricane (Independent Standards Assessor)
Present, as expected
Committee Member
Ms A Orchard (Independent Standards Assessor)
Absent
Committee Member
Mrs L Agnew (Parish Councillor)
Present, as expected
Committee Member
Mr M Slatford (Parish Councillor)
Present, as expected
Committee Member
Paul Mahoney (Parish Councillor)
Apologies
Reserve
Chair of the Audit and Accounts Committee
Agenda
0
Review of Work Programme
Minutes
The Committee reviewed and agreed its work programme with the following comments:
· The Monitoring Officer stated that she would provide an update on the recruitment of independent persons and independent standards assessors in November, and to inform the Committee further about Code of Conduct training.
· The Monitoring Officer stated that she would provide an update on the recruitment of independent persons and independent standards assessors in November, and to inform the Committee further about Code of Conduct training.
1
Apologies for absence and substitutions
Minutes
Apologies were received from Camilla Proctor.
The Chair confirmed that she had received two resignations, Paul Mahoney with immediate effect, and Camilla Proctor effective from 30 June 2023.
The Chair confirmed that she had received two resignations, Paul Mahoney with immediate effect, and Camilla Proctor effective from 30 June 2023.
2
Appointment of Vice-Chair
To appoint a Vice-Chair to the Standards Committee for the 2023/24 municipal year.
Minutes
Councillor J Slimin was appointed as Vice-Chair for the 2023/24 municipal year.
3
Declarations of interest
Minutes
There were no declarations of interest.
4
Urgent matters
To consider any items of business, other than those shown on this agenda and which, by reason of special circumstances to be stated at the meeting, in the opinion of the Chairman, should be considered at the meeting as a matter of urgency.
Minutes
There were no urgent matters.
5
Minutes of the meeting held on 13 March 2023
The Chair will move that the minutes of the meeting be signed as a correct record. The only part of the minutes that can be discussed is their accuracy.
Attachments:
- Document Minutes of the meeting held on the 13th March 2023 01 Jun 2023
Minutes
The minutes of the meeting held on 13 March 2023 were confirmed by the Committee and signed by the Chair as a correct record.
6
Standards Committee Annual Report
Contact Officer: Fiona Thomsen
This report seeks the Committee’s approval of its Annual Report attached at Appendix 1.
This report seeks the Committee’s approval of its Annual Report attached at Appendix 1.
Attachments:
- Document Standards Committee Annual Report 01 Jun 2023
- Document Appendix 1 01 Jun 2023
Minutes
The Monitoring Officer introduced the report which sought the Committee’s approval of its Annual Report attached at Appendix 1. The report was previously considered by the Committee on 13 March 2023 when some amendments and additions to the draft report were requested by Committee members.
Resolved: The Committee:
1. Approves the Annual Report for publication in the form appended in appendix 1.
2. Recommends presentation of the Annual Report to Council for consideration.
Resolved: The Committee:
1. Approves the Annual Report for publication in the form appended in appendix 1.
2. Recommends presentation of the Annual Report to Council for consideration.
7
Complaints Update Report
Contact Officer: Fiona Thomsen
This report seeks to update the Committee on progress in determining Code of Conduct complaints received against borough, parish, and town councillors.
This report seeks to update the Committee on progress in determining Code of Conduct complaints received against borough, parish, and town councillors.
Attachments:
- Document Complaints Update Report 01 Jun 2023
- Document Appendix 1 01 Jun 2023
Minutes
The Monitoring Officer introduced the report which provided an update to the Committee on the progress in determining Code of Conduct complaints received against Borough, Parish, and Town Councillors.
She confirmed that there had been one email enquiry since the last meeting on 13 March 2023, to which no formal complaint form was received.
Resolved: The Committee:
1. Notes the progress made on complaints received and the learning derived from the consideration of complaints.
She confirmed that there had been one email enquiry since the last meeting on 13 March 2023, to which no formal complaint form was received.
Resolved: The Committee:
1. Notes the progress made on complaints received and the learning derived from the consideration of complaints.
8
Recruitment of Independent Person and Independent Standards Assessor - Update
Contact Officer: Fiona Thomsen
This report updates the Committee on the timetable for the recruitment process for the appointment of two Independent Persons and three Independent Standards Assessors.
This report updates the Committee on the timetable for the recruitment process for the appointment of two Independent Persons and three Independent Standards Assessors.
Attachments:
- Document Recruitment of Independent Person and Independent Standards Assessor - Update 01 Jun 2023
Minutes
The Monitoring Officer introduced the report which updated the Committee on the timetable for the appointment of two Independent Persons and three Independent Standards Assessors. She stated that the job adverts had been published on the Council’s website and was about to be advertised on the Basingstoke Gazette.
The Monitoring Officer also sought approval from the Committee to recommend to Council that Verity Murricane’s four-year term as an Independent Standards Assessor be extended from 31 December 2023 until 30 April 2024 in order that she could continue as Chair of Standards Committee until the end of the municipal year.
Resolved: The Committee:
1. Notes the timetable for the recruitment of two Independent Persons and three Independent Standards Assessors.
2. Recommends to Council that Verity Murricane’s term as Independent Standards Assessor be extended for 4 months from 1 January 2024 in order that she can continue as Chair of Standards Committee until the end of the municipal year.
The Monitoring Officer also sought approval from the Committee to recommend to Council that Verity Murricane’s four-year term as an Independent Standards Assessor be extended from 31 December 2023 until 30 April 2024 in order that she could continue as Chair of Standards Committee until the end of the municipal year.
Resolved: The Committee:
1. Notes the timetable for the recruitment of two Independent Persons and three Independent Standards Assessors.
2. Recommends to Council that Verity Murricane’s term as Independent Standards Assessor be extended for 4 months from 1 January 2024 in order that she can continue as Chair of Standards Committee until the end of the municipal year.
9
Code of Conduct Learning and Development Programme
Contact Officer: Fiona Thomsen
This report informs the Committee of the proposed learning and development on the Councillors’ Code of Conduct for Borough and Town and Parish Councils for 2023/24.
This report informs the Committee of the proposed learning and development on the Councillors’ Code of Conduct for Borough and Town and Parish Councils for 2023/24.
Attachments:
- Document Code of Conduct Learning and Development Programme 01 Jun 2023
Minutes
The Monitoring Officer introduced the report which informed the Committee of the proposed learning and development on the Councillors’ Code of Conduct for Borough and Town and Parish Councils for 2023/24. She outlined that Code of Conduct training had been arranged for Borough Councillors.
She also informed the Committee of the National Association for Local Councils (NALC) launch of the Civility and Respect Project, which encouraged Town and Parish Councils to take a pledge to treat councillors, clerks, employees, and members of the public with respect. She highlighted e-learning modules on the NALC website alongside an e-learning suite on the Local Government Association (LGA) website.
The Committee discussed the report and made the following comments which included:
· It was acknowledged that over half of the Parish and Town Councils had adopted the Local Government Association’s (LGA) Model Code of Conduct. Therefore, the importance of training was highlighted for all existing Parish and Town Councillors.
· It was queried when the training for Parish and Town Councils would be. The Monitoring Officer proposed an online session to take place in July and that she would email Parish Clerks about training following the meeting.
· Disclosing information about training to chairmen as well as clerks was discussed.
· A discussion took place on the possibility of E-learning modules on the LGA and NALC websites and whether it would produce a certificate of completion.
· It was asked whether Parish and Town Councils should participate in the Borough Councillors Code of Conduct training. The Monitoring Officer advised the training for Parishes needed to be tailored as the guidance would be different.
· It was highlighted that co-opted Parish Councillors hadn’t come across the Nolan Principles of public life in their training.
Resolved: The Committee:
Notes the contents of the report and provide the Monitoring Officer with views, particularly in relation to training provision proposed in paragraphs 3.2 and 3.3.
She also informed the Committee of the National Association for Local Councils (NALC) launch of the Civility and Respect Project, which encouraged Town and Parish Councils to take a pledge to treat councillors, clerks, employees, and members of the public with respect. She highlighted e-learning modules on the NALC website alongside an e-learning suite on the Local Government Association (LGA) website.
The Committee discussed the report and made the following comments which included:
· It was acknowledged that over half of the Parish and Town Councils had adopted the Local Government Association’s (LGA) Model Code of Conduct. Therefore, the importance of training was highlighted for all existing Parish and Town Councillors.
· It was queried when the training for Parish and Town Councils would be. The Monitoring Officer proposed an online session to take place in July and that she would email Parish Clerks about training following the meeting.
· Disclosing information about training to chairmen as well as clerks was discussed.
· A discussion took place on the possibility of E-learning modules on the LGA and NALC websites and whether it would produce a certificate of completion.
· It was asked whether Parish and Town Councils should participate in the Borough Councillors Code of Conduct training. The Monitoring Officer advised the training for Parishes needed to be tailored as the guidance would be different.
· It was highlighted that co-opted Parish Councillors hadn’t come across the Nolan Principles of public life in their training.
Resolved: The Committee:
Notes the contents of the report and provide the Monitoring Officer with views, particularly in relation to training provision proposed in paragraphs 3.2 and 3.3.
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