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, 22nd July 2024
6:30 PM
Monday, 22nd July 2024
6:30 PM
End:
Monday, 22nd July 2024
9:30 PM
Monday, 22nd July 2024
9:30 PM
Meeting Status
Status:
Confirmed
Confirmed
Date:
22 Jul 2024
22 Jul 2024
Location:
Committee Rooms 1 & 2 - Deanes
Committee Rooms 1 & 2 - Deanes
Webcast:
Available
Available
Meeting Attendees
Chair
Ms A Lewis (Independent Standards Assessor)
Present, as expected
Committee Member
Ms A Povey (Independent Standards Assessor)
Present, as expected
Committee Member
Ms S Goddard (Independent Standards Assessor)
Present, as expected
Committee Member
Mr I Elkins (Parish Councillor)
Present, as expected
Committee Member
Ms F Maritan-Hawkins (Parish Councillor)
Present, as expected
Committee Member
Chair of the Investigating and Disciplinary and Standards Appeals 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)
Apologies
Reserve
Chair of the Audit and Accounts Committee
Reserve
Chair of the Development Control Committee
Agenda
1
Apologies for absence and substitutions
Minutes
Apologies were received from Parish Councillors M Slatford, L Agnew and Councillor M Howard-Sorrell.
2
Appointment of Vice-Chair
To appoint a Vice-Chair to the Standards Committee for the 2024/25 municipal year.
Minutes
Councillor J Slimin was appointed as Vice-Chair for the 2024/25 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 11 March 2024
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 11 March 2024 12 Jul 2024
Minutes
The minutes of the meeting held on 11 March 2024 were confirmed by the Committee and signed by the Chair as an accurate record.
6
Code of Conduct Learning and Development Programme
Contact Officer: Fiona Thomsen
This report updates the Committee of the proposed learning and development on the Councillors’ Code of Conduct for Borough and Town and Parish Councils for 2024/2025.
This report updates the Committee of the proposed learning and development on the Councillors’ Code of Conduct for Borough and Town and Parish Councils for 2024/2025.
Attachments:
- Document Code of Conduct Learning and Development Programme 12 Jul 2024
Minutes
The Deputy Monitoring Officer introduced the report, which updated the Committee on the Code of Conduct learning and development programme for Borough and Town and Parish Councils for 2024/2025.
It was confirmed that 32 out of 42 Parish and Town Councils had adopted the Local Government Association’s (LGA) Model Code of Conduct. It was detailed that in the 2023/24 municipal year, the Monitoring Officer, alongside the Deputy Monitoring Officer undertook two online training sessions and three in person training sessions for Parish and Town Councillors, with approximately 70 Parish and Town Councillors and 19 Parish and Town Clerks attending.
It was stated that further online training sessions for Parish and Town Councillors had been arranged for 18 September and 15 October 2024, with the notification to clerks of the link to the LGA e-learning module for Parish and Town Councillors if they were unable to attend the training sessions.
It was reported that two sessions had taken place in the last municipal year for Borough Councillors and that 23 borough councillors had attended. As part of the new councillor induction programme in May 2024, a session on the Code of Conduct took place, with further sessions planned for September and November 2024.
The Committee discussed the report and made the following comments:
Asked what percentage of parish and town councillors had been trained in total. The Deputy Monitoring Officer stated that she was not sure of the total percentage but emphasised the improvement in take-up of the training. Stated that certificates of completion for the LGA e-learning module would be useful to clerks to maintain a record of completion. Expressed concern that 10 Parishes had not adopted the LGA Model Code of Conduct, and that encouragement was required for them to adopt the Model Code. It was agreed that the clerks of the Parishes which had not adopted the Model Code would be written to. That the report highlighted the good progress which had been made in training Parish and Town Councillors on Code of Conduct and the Parish and Town Councils adopting the LGA Model Code.
Resolved: The Committee note the contents of the report.
It was confirmed that 32 out of 42 Parish and Town Councils had adopted the Local Government Association’s (LGA) Model Code of Conduct. It was detailed that in the 2023/24 municipal year, the Monitoring Officer, alongside the Deputy Monitoring Officer undertook two online training sessions and three in person training sessions for Parish and Town Councillors, with approximately 70 Parish and Town Councillors and 19 Parish and Town Clerks attending.
It was stated that further online training sessions for Parish and Town Councillors had been arranged for 18 September and 15 October 2024, with the notification to clerks of the link to the LGA e-learning module for Parish and Town Councillors if they were unable to attend the training sessions.
It was reported that two sessions had taken place in the last municipal year for Borough Councillors and that 23 borough councillors had attended. As part of the new councillor induction programme in May 2024, a session on the Code of Conduct took place, with further sessions planned for September and November 2024.
The Committee discussed the report and made the following comments:
Asked what percentage of parish and town councillors had been trained in total. The Deputy Monitoring Officer stated that she was not sure of the total percentage but emphasised the improvement in take-up of the training. Stated that certificates of completion for the LGA e-learning module would be useful to clerks to maintain a record of completion. Expressed concern that 10 Parishes had not adopted the LGA Model Code of Conduct, and that encouragement was required for them to adopt the Model Code. It was agreed that the clerks of the Parishes which had not adopted the Model Code would be written to. That the report highlighted the good progress which had been made in training Parish and Town Councillors on Code of Conduct and the Parish and Town Councils adopting the LGA Model Code.
Resolved: The Committee note the contents of the report.
7
Recruitment of Independent Standards Assessors - Update
Contact Officer: Fiona Thomsen
This report updates the Committee on the outcome of the recruitment process for Independent Standards Assessors.
This report updates the Committee on the outcome of the recruitment process for Independent Standards Assessors.
Attachments:
- Document Recruitment of Independent Standards Assessors - Update 12 Jul 2024
Minutes
The Deputy Monitoring Officer introduced the report, which informed the Committee of the outcome of the recruitment process for Independent Standards Assessors (ISAs). The interviews took place on 18 March and 5 April 2024. The appointments of Amanda Povey and Sylvia Goddard as ISAs were approved by Council for a period of 2 years plus a 2-year extension if required on 16 May 2024.
The Committee discussed the report and made the following comments:
Noted the inconsistency in paragraph 13.1 of the report referring to a future recruitment exercise when the report detailed the appointment to the roles. Observed that all the Council’s independent roles had been filled and thanked officers for their role in the recruitment process.
Resolved: The Committee note the contents of the report.
The Committee discussed the report and made the following comments:
Noted the inconsistency in paragraph 13.1 of the report referring to a future recruitment exercise when the report detailed the appointment to the roles. Observed that all the Council’s independent roles had been filled and thanked officers for their role in the recruitment process.
Resolved: The Committee note the contents of the report.
8
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 12 Jul 2024
- Document Appendix 1 Complaints Record 12 Jul 2024
Minutes
The Deputy 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.
It was confirmed that four complaints had been received since the last meeting, one was dismissed at the outset as alleged conduct did not relate to Council business. Another complaint was a self-referral by a parish councillor but as the potential complainant did not wish to submit a formal complaint it was dismissed as the arrangements for determining complaints did not allow for any further action. The remaining two complaints were still to be determined.
The Committee discussed the report and made the following comments:
Commented that self-referral complaints were unusual and questioned whether the Council’s Arrangements for Dealing with complaints should address self-referrals. Sought greater understanding on determining complaints of bullying against councillors. The Deputy Monitoring Officer stated that the ACAS definition of bullying would be used, alongside consulting with Independent Persons, Independent Standards Assessors and, if relevant, Parish Representatives. Commented that the LGA Model Code of Conduct for Councillors, as adopted by the Borough Council in 2022, covered incidents of bullying. In response to a question, the Deputy Monitoring Officer detailed that the purpose of the regular complaint report was for the council to learn from complaints received and to seek continuous improvement. Queried how complaints were investigated. The Deputy Monitoring Officer referred to the Arrangement for Considering Complaints which contained guidance for the Independent Person and ISA to decide whether a complaint was serious enough to warrant a formal investigation. The time taken for determining complaints usually depended on the responsiveness of those involved in the process.
Resolved: The Committee note the progress made on complaints received and the learning derived from the consideration of complaints.
It was confirmed that four complaints had been received since the last meeting, one was dismissed at the outset as alleged conduct did not relate to Council business. Another complaint was a self-referral by a parish councillor but as the potential complainant did not wish to submit a formal complaint it was dismissed as the arrangements for determining complaints did not allow for any further action. The remaining two complaints were still to be determined.
The Committee discussed the report and made the following comments:
Commented that self-referral complaints were unusual and questioned whether the Council’s Arrangements for Dealing with complaints should address self-referrals. Sought greater understanding on determining complaints of bullying against councillors. The Deputy Monitoring Officer stated that the ACAS definition of bullying would be used, alongside consulting with Independent Persons, Independent Standards Assessors and, if relevant, Parish Representatives. Commented that the LGA Model Code of Conduct for Councillors, as adopted by the Borough Council in 2022, covered incidents of bullying. In response to a question, the Deputy Monitoring Officer detailed that the purpose of the regular complaint report was for the council to learn from complaints received and to seek continuous improvement. Queried how complaints were investigated. The Deputy Monitoring Officer referred to the Arrangement for Considering Complaints which contained guidance for the Independent Person and ISA to decide whether a complaint was serious enough to warrant a formal investigation. The time taken for determining complaints usually depended on the responsiveness of those involved in the process.
Resolved: The Committee note the progress made on complaints received and the learning derived from the consideration of complaints.
9
Standards Committee Work Programme 2024/2025
The committee is asked to note and review its Work Programme.
Attachments:
- Document Work Programme 12 Jul 2024
Minutes
The Committee reviewed and agreed its work programme.
The Deputy Monitoring Officer detailed that the Probity in Planning Review would be reported back to Standards Committee at a future meeting once the Council’s Constitution Working Group and Development Control Committee had reviewed the Code of Practice.
The meeting ended at 7:09pm.
Chair
The Deputy Monitoring Officer detailed that the Probity in Planning Review would be reported back to Standards Committee at a future meeting once the Council’s Constitution Working Group and Development Control Committee had reviewed the Code of Practice.
The meeting ended at 7:09pm.
Chair
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