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, 4th December 2023
6:30 PM
Monday, 4th December 2023
6:30 PM
End:
Monday, 4th December 2023
9:30 PM
Monday, 4th December 2023
9:30 PM
Meeting Status
Status:
Confirmed
Confirmed
Date:
04 Dec 2023
04 Dec 2023
Location:
Committee Rooms 1 & 2 - Deanes
Committee Rooms 1 & 2 - Deanes
Webcast:
Available
Available
Meeting Attendees
Chair
Ms V Murricane (Independent Standards Assessor)
Present, as expected
Committee Member
Ms A Lewis (Independent Standards Assessor)
Present, as expected
Committee Member
Mr I Elkins (Parish Councillor)
Present, as expected
Committee Member
Ms F Maritan (Parish Councillor)
Present, as expected
Committee Member
Chair of the Investigating and Disciplinary and Standards Appeals Committee
Committee Member
Deputy Mayor and Chair of the Resident Services Committee
Committee Member
Ms A Orchard (Independent Standards Assessor)
Absent
Committee Member
Mrs L Agnew (Parish Councillor)
Apologies
Committee Member
Mr M Slatford (Parish Councillor)
Present, as expected
Reserve
Chair of the Audit and Accounts Committee
Reserve
Cabinet Member for Communities, Partnerships and Inclusion
Agenda
1
Apologies for absence and substitutions
Minutes
Apologies were received from Linda Agnew.
2
Declarations of interest
Minutes
There were no declarations of interest.
3
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.
4
Minutes of the meeting held on 12 June 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 12 June 2023 22 Nov 2023
Minutes
The minutes of the meeting held on 12 June 2023 were confirmed by the Committee as a correct record and signed by the Chair.
5
Recruitment of Independent Person and Independent Standards Assessor - Update
Contact Officer: Fiona Thomsen
This report updates the Committee on the outcome of the recruitment process for Independent Persons and Independent Standards Assessors.
This report updates the Committee on the outcome of the recruitment process for Independent Persons and Independent Standards Assessors.
Attachments:
- Document Recruitment of Independent Person and Independent Standards Assessor - Update 22 Nov 2023
Minutes
The Monitoring Officer introduced the report which updated the Committee on the outcome of the recruitment process for Independent Persons and Independent Standards Assessors.
She detailed that the Council had appointed two Independent Persons and one Independent Standards Assessor, as a result of interviews which took place in September and October 2023. Two new Parish Council representatives had also been appointed to the Standards Committee.
The Monitoring Officer sought approval of a further recruitment process for two Independent Standards Assessors. It was detailed that there was currently one vacancy for an Independent Standards Assessor but there would be a second vacancy after the completion of Verity Murricane’s term on 30 April 2024.
Resolved: The Committee:
· Approves a further recruitment process for two Independent Standards Assessors.
She detailed that the Council had appointed two Independent Persons and one Independent Standards Assessor, as a result of interviews which took place in September and October 2023. Two new Parish Council representatives had also been appointed to the Standards Committee.
The Monitoring Officer sought approval of a further recruitment process for two Independent Standards Assessors. It was detailed that there was currently one vacancy for an Independent Standards Assessor but there would be a second vacancy after the completion of Verity Murricane’s term on 30 April 2024.
Resolved: The Committee:
· Approves a further recruitment process for two Independent Standards Assessors.
6
Code of Conduct Learning and Development Programme
Contact Officer: Fiona Thomsen
This report updates the Committee of the learning and development on the Councillors’ Code of Conduct for Borough and Town and Parish Councils which has taken place since the Committee meeting on 12 June 2023.
This report updates the Committee of the learning and development on the Councillors’ Code of Conduct for Borough and Town and Parish Councils which has taken place since the Committee meeting on 12 June 2023.
Attachments:
- Document Code of Conduct Learning and Development Programme 22 Nov 2023
Minutes
The Monitoring Officer updated the Committee of the learning and development on the Councillors’ Code of Conduct for Borough and Town and Parish Councils which had taken place since the Committee meeting on 12 June 2023.
She informed the Committtee that a code of conduct training session took place on 22 June and eight Borough Councillors attended. She stated that another code of conduct training session had been arranged on 22 January 2024 and Borough Councillors would be recommended to complete an e-learning module on the Local Government Association (LGA) website if they were unable to attend.
The Monitoring Officer also informed the Committee that in-person code of conduct training had been provided at Baughurst Parish Council in August 2023, and that other Parish Councils had requested in person training. It was also stated that a remote training session had been arranged for Parish Councils on 16 January 2024.
The Committee discussed the report and made the following comments:
· It was queried as to which Parish Councils had requested in-person code of conduct training. The Monitoring Officer stated that the Parish Councils that had requested in-person training were: East Woodhay, Highclere, Burghclere, Old Basing and Bramley.
· In response to a question, the Monitoring Officer stated that once the e-learning module had been completed, a certificate of completion needed to be sent to the Council so it could be recorded.
· Expressed disappointment that more Borough Councillors had not undertaken the code of conduct training in the 2023/2024 municipal year.
· A suggestion was made to work with the Basingstoke and Deane Association of Parish and Town Councils to encourage adoption of the Borough Council’s code of conduct and to promote training.
· Stated concern about a lack of knowledge as to how many Parish Councillors had undergone training, and that a record of attendance needed to be kept. It was also stated that Parishes should review their code of conduct annually.
· A discussion took place about the approaches required to persuade Councillors to attend code of conduct training.
· Enquired if Parish Clerks could train Parish Councillors on code of conduct if the Clerks understood the training material.
· Recommended that the LGA code of conduct e-learning module be completed as part of new Borough and Parish Councillor induction.
· Highlighted the importance of councillors to acquire knowledge on the code of conduct.
Resolved: The Committee notes the content of the report.
She informed the Committtee that a code of conduct training session took place on 22 June and eight Borough Councillors attended. She stated that another code of conduct training session had been arranged on 22 January 2024 and Borough Councillors would be recommended to complete an e-learning module on the Local Government Association (LGA) website if they were unable to attend.
The Monitoring Officer also informed the Committee that in-person code of conduct training had been provided at Baughurst Parish Council in August 2023, and that other Parish Councils had requested in person training. It was also stated that a remote training session had been arranged for Parish Councils on 16 January 2024.
The Committee discussed the report and made the following comments:
· It was queried as to which Parish Councils had requested in-person code of conduct training. The Monitoring Officer stated that the Parish Councils that had requested in-person training were: East Woodhay, Highclere, Burghclere, Old Basing and Bramley.
· In response to a question, the Monitoring Officer stated that once the e-learning module had been completed, a certificate of completion needed to be sent to the Council so it could be recorded.
· Expressed disappointment that more Borough Councillors had not undertaken the code of conduct training in the 2023/2024 municipal year.
· A suggestion was made to work with the Basingstoke and Deane Association of Parish and Town Councils to encourage adoption of the Borough Council’s code of conduct and to promote training.
· Stated concern about a lack of knowledge as to how many Parish Councillors had undergone training, and that a record of attendance needed to be kept. It was also stated that Parishes should review their code of conduct annually.
· A discussion took place about the approaches required to persuade Councillors to attend code of conduct training.
· Enquired if Parish Clerks could train Parish Councillors on code of conduct if the Clerks understood the training material.
· Recommended that the LGA code of conduct e-learning module be completed as part of new Borough and Parish Councillor induction.
· Highlighted the importance of councillors to acquire knowledge on the code of conduct.
Resolved: The Committee notes the content of the report.
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 22 Nov 2023
- Document Appendix 1 Complaints Record 22 Nov 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 four complaints received since the previous meeting on 12 June 2023, two of which were dismissed at the outset for alleged conduct which did not relate to Council business and was not covered by the Code of Conduct. One complaint was resolved by the way of informal action. There was one undetermined complaint which was received on 13 November 2023.
The Committee discussed the report and made the following comments:
· In response to a question, the Monitoring Officer confirmed that three of the complaints were related to Parish Councillors and one was related to a Borough Councillor.
· Questioned how complaints were analysed. The Monitoring Officer emphasised learning from a complaint if it went through the decision making process, alongside the Standards Committee Annual Report.
Resolved: The Committee:
· Notes the progress made on complaints received and the learning derived from the consideration of complaints.
She confirmed that there had been four complaints received since the previous meeting on 12 June 2023, two of which were dismissed at the outset for alleged conduct which did not relate to Council business and was not covered by the Code of Conduct. One complaint was resolved by the way of informal action. There was one undetermined complaint which was received on 13 November 2023.
The Committee discussed the report and made the following comments:
· In response to a question, the Monitoring Officer confirmed that three of the complaints were related to Parish Councillors and one was related to a Borough Councillor.
· Questioned how complaints were analysed. The Monitoring Officer emphasised learning from a complaint if it went through the decision making process, alongside the Standards Committee Annual Report.
Resolved: The Committee:
· Notes the progress made on complaints received and the learning derived from the consideration of complaints.
8
Work Programme 2023/2024
The committee is asked to note and review its Work Programme.
Attachments:
- Document Work Programme 2023 2024 22 Nov 2023
Minutes
The Committee reviewed and agreed its work programme with the following
comments:
· The Monitoring Officer detailed that a Revised Probity in Planning Code of Practice for Councillors and Officers would be presented at the March meeting, alongside the draft Annual Report of the Standards Committee.
The meeting ended at 7:05pm.
Chair
comments:
· The Monitoring Officer detailed that a Revised Probity in Planning Code of Practice for Councillors and Officers would be presented at the March meeting, alongside the draft Annual Report of the Standards Committee.
The meeting ended at 7:05pm.
Chair
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