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, 11th November 2024
6:30 PM
Monday, 11th November 2024
6:30 PM
End:
Monday, 11th November 2024
9:30 PM
Monday, 11th November 2024
9:30 PM
Meeting Status
Status:
Confirmed
Confirmed
Date:
11 Nov 2024
11 Nov 2024
Location:
Committee Rooms 1 & 2 - Deanes
Committee Rooms 1 & 2 - Deanes
Webcast:
Available
Available
Meeting Attendees
Committee Member
Ms S Goddard (Independent Standards Assessor)
Present, as expected
Committee Member
Chair of the Licensing Committee
Chair
Ms A Lewis (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)
Present, as expected
Committee Member
Mr M Slatford (Parish Councillor)
Present, as expected
Reserve
Chair of the Audit and Accounts Committee
Reserve
Chair of the Development Control Committee
Committee Member
Ms A Povey (Independent Standards Assessor)
Present, as expected
Agenda
1
Apologies for absence and substitutions
Minutes
There were no apologies for absence or substitutions.
Ms A Orchard was absent.
Ms A Orchard was absent.
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 22 July 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 22 July 2024 30 Oct 2024
Minutes
The minutes of the meeting held on 22 July 2024 were approved by the Committee as a correct record and signed by the Chair.
5
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 30 Oct 2024
Minutes
The 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 34 out of 42 Parish Councils had adopted the Local Government Association’s (LGA) Model Code of Conduct, with three further Parish Councils imminently expected to adopt the Model Code.
It was also detailed that online code of conduct training sessions for Parish and Town Councils had taken place since the last meeting, to which there were 25 attendees. A remote code of conduct training session had taken place for Borough Councillors, to which 6 Councillors attended. The Monitoring Officer stated that Councillors absent from training would be reminded of the LGA e-learning module.
The Committee discussed the report and made the following comments:
Queried whether the remaining Parish Councils had declined or not responded to adopting the LGA Model Code of Conduct. The Monitoring Officer confirmed they had not responded and would follow up. Praised the increased adoption of the LGA Model Code of Conduct among Parish Councils. Asked records were kept of Borough Councillors who completed the e-learning instead of attending the training sessions. The Monitoring Officer stated that she would write to Councillors for confirmation of completion and feedback.
Resolved: The Committee note the contents of the report.
It was confirmed that 34 out of 42 Parish Councils had adopted the Local Government Association’s (LGA) Model Code of Conduct, with three further Parish Councils imminently expected to adopt the Model Code.
It was also detailed that online code of conduct training sessions for Parish and Town Councils had taken place since the last meeting, to which there were 25 attendees. A remote code of conduct training session had taken place for Borough Councillors, to which 6 Councillors attended. The Monitoring Officer stated that Councillors absent from training would be reminded of the LGA e-learning module.
The Committee discussed the report and made the following comments:
Queried whether the remaining Parish Councils had declined or not responded to adopting the LGA Model Code of Conduct. The Monitoring Officer confirmed they had not responded and would follow up. Praised the increased adoption of the LGA Model Code of Conduct among Parish Councils. Asked records were kept of Borough Councillors who completed the e-learning instead of attending the training sessions. The Monitoring Officer stated that she would write to Councillors for confirmation of completion and feedback.
Resolved: The Committee note the contents of the report.
6
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 30 Oct 2024
- Document Appendix 1 Complaints Record 30 Oct 2024
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.
It was confirmed that the Council had received an increase in the number of complaints in the 2024/25, with 6 complaints against Borough Councillors and 4 complaints against Parish and Town Councillors.
The Committee discussed the report and made the following comments:
The Monitoring Officer confirmed the complaints were genuine, taken seriously, and some were still under review for potential further action. Asked if the Code of Conduct defined disrespect and acceptable social media behaviour. The Monitoring Officer confirmed that the LGA Model Code addressed disrespect and unacceptable behaviour and that social media complaints must relate to council business.
Resolved: The Committee note the progress made on complaints received and the learning derived from the consideration of complaints.
It was confirmed that the Council had received an increase in the number of complaints in the 2024/25, with 6 complaints against Borough Councillors and 4 complaints against Parish and Town Councillors.
The Committee discussed the report and made the following comments:
The Monitoring Officer confirmed the complaints were genuine, taken seriously, and some were still under review for potential further action. Asked if the Code of Conduct defined disrespect and acceptable social media behaviour. The Monitoring Officer confirmed that the LGA Model Code addressed disrespect and unacceptable behaviour and that social media complaints must relate to council business.
Resolved: The Committee note the progress made on complaints received and the learning derived from the consideration of complaints.
7
Standards Committee Work Programme 2024/2025
The Committee is asked to note and review its Work Programme.
Attachments:
- Document Work Programme 30 Oct 2024
Minutes
The Committee reviewed and agreed its work programme.
The Monitoring Officer stated that details of the Government consultation on reforms to the local standards framework, as announced by the Deputy Prime Minister, would be presented at the next meeting if published.
The Monitoring Officer confirmed that details of the recruitment of an Independent Person and an Independent Standards Assessor would be presented at the next meeting.
The Monitoring Officer stated that details of the Government consultation on reforms to the local standards framework, as announced by the Deputy Prime Minister, would be presented at the next meeting if published.
The Monitoring Officer confirmed that details of the recruitment of an Independent Person and an Independent Standards Assessor would be presented at the next meeting.
8
Exclusion of press and public
To consider whether, in view of the nature of the remaining items on the agenda, any of them are likely to involve the disclosure of exempt or confidential information within the terms of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972
9
Confidential / exempt items for information
Previous Meetings
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