Hart Borough Council
Councillors:
33
Wards:
11
Committees:
14
Meetings (2025):
61
Meetings (2024):
60
Meeting
Standards Committee - Hart
Meeting Times
Scheduled Time
Start:
Thursday, 15th August 2024
7:00 PM
Thursday, 15th August 2024
7:00 PM
End:
Thursday, 15th August 2024
11:00 PM
Thursday, 15th August 2024
11:00 PM
Meeting Status
Status:
Confirmed
Confirmed
Date:
15 Aug 2024
15 Aug 2024
Location:
Council Chamber
Council Chamber
Meeting Attendees
Committee Member
Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder - Finance
Committee Member
David Argent
Apologies
Committee Member
Vice-Chair of Council
Committee Member
Portfolio Holder - Digital and Communications
Officer
Chief Executive
Daryl Phillips
In attendance
Officer
Administrator
Expected
Officer
Committee and Member Services Manager
Sharon Black
Democratic Services
In attendance
Committee Member
Julia Ambler
Present, as expected
Committee Member
Portfolio Holder - Community Safety and Regulatory Services
Committee Member
Patricia Monks
Present, as expected
Committee Member
Leader of the Council
Officer
Contracts & Procurement Manager
Ashley Grist
In attendance
Agenda
1
Election of Chairman for 2024/25
To elect a Chairman for 2024/25 from Members of the Committee.
Minutes
Julia Ambler was duly elected as Chair.
Proposed by: Cllr Neighbour; Seconded by Cllr Collins. Agreed unanimously.
Proposed by: Cllr Neighbour; Seconded by Cllr Collins. Agreed unanimously.
2
Election of Vice-Chairman for 2024/25
To elect a Vice-Chairman for 2024/25 from Members of the Committee
Minutes
Cllr Jane Worlock was duly elected as Vice-Chair.
Proposed by: Cllr Neighbour; Seconded by Cllr Dorn. Agreed unanimously.
Proposed by: Cllr Neighbour; Seconded by Cllr Dorn. Agreed unanimously.
3
Apologies for Absence
To receive any apologies for absence from Members*
*Note: Members are asked to email Committee Services in advance of the meeting as soon as they become aware they will be absent.
*Note: Members are asked to email Committee Services in advance of the meeting as soon as they become aware they will be absent.
Minutes
Apologies had been received from Cllr Clarke, who was being substituted by Cllr Jones, and David Argent
4
Declarations of Interest
To declare disclosable pecuniary, and any other, interests*.
*Note: Members are asked to email Committee Services in advance of the meeting as soon as they become aware they may have an interest to declare.
*Note: Members are asked to email Committee Services in advance of the meeting as soon as they become aware they may have an interest to declare.
Minutes
There were no declarations of interest.
5
Dealing with Allegations Procedure
To endorse the refreshed Localism Act 2011 Section 28(6) arrangements for dealing with complaints about Councillor conduct.
Monitoring Officer recommendation
1. That the Committee endorses the refreshed Section 28(6) Arrangements for dealing with Allegations attached in Appendix 1 and recommends that Hart District Council’s Full Council adopt them.
Monitoring Officer recommendation
1. That the Committee endorses the refreshed Section 28(6) Arrangements for dealing with Allegations attached in Appendix 1 and recommends that Hart District Council’s Full Council adopt them.
Attachments:
- Document Covering Report Dealing with Allegations 07 Aug 2024
- Document Dealing with Allegations Procedure 07 Aug 2024
- Document Appendix 1 Dealing with Allegations Procedure 07 Aug 2024
- Document Dealing with Allegations Procedure Sept 24 Draft Council 07 Aug 2024
Minutes
The Committee was being recommended to endorse the refreshed Section 28(6) Arrangements for dealing with Allegations, and to recommend to Hart District Council’s Full Council to adopt these.
Members of the Committee heard:
That minor amendments had been made in light of experiences of a number of cases to make processes easier to follow and to ensure the document was in plain English and easier to understand Only one case had gone to a Panel hearing, although there had been a number of others that had been dealt with by the Monitoring Officer that had been satisfactorily concluded by informal agreement That the Council had a “light touch” approach to dealing with any allegations
Members of the Committee queried:
Whether in future it would be possible to have a track changes version of any refreshed document so amendments would be clearer Whether a more in depth explanation could be given to complainants when cases were closed as to why the allegation was dealt with in the way it was
Discussion took place around how it was determined in what capacity Councillors were acting, for those who had more than one capacity (ie District, County and/or Parish Councillor). It was proposed that the wording on Page 5, in section 2, be amended to say “against an individual acting in the capacity of a District councillor” so that it was clearer for all involved.
An amendment to the document was proposed by Cllr Neighbour and seconded by Cllr Worlock. Agreed unanimously.
It was further agreed that an annual report be circulated via email to the Committee showing how many complaints were received and which stage of the process they were resolved by. This would be actioned starting in time for the first meeting of the Standards Committee after the May 2025 full Council Annual General Meeting.
Subject to the modification agreed, the paper was unanimously recommended to be put forward to full Council in September.
Members of the Committee heard:
That minor amendments had been made in light of experiences of a number of cases to make processes easier to follow and to ensure the document was in plain English and easier to understand Only one case had gone to a Panel hearing, although there had been a number of others that had been dealt with by the Monitoring Officer that had been satisfactorily concluded by informal agreement That the Council had a “light touch” approach to dealing with any allegations
Members of the Committee queried:
Whether in future it would be possible to have a track changes version of any refreshed document so amendments would be clearer Whether a more in depth explanation could be given to complainants when cases were closed as to why the allegation was dealt with in the way it was
Discussion took place around how it was determined in what capacity Councillors were acting, for those who had more than one capacity (ie District, County and/or Parish Councillor). It was proposed that the wording on Page 5, in section 2, be amended to say “against an individual acting in the capacity of a District councillor” so that it was clearer for all involved.
An amendment to the document was proposed by Cllr Neighbour and seconded by Cllr Worlock. Agreed unanimously.
It was further agreed that an annual report be circulated via email to the Committee showing how many complaints were received and which stage of the process they were resolved by. This would be actioned starting in time for the first meeting of the Standards Committee after the May 2025 full Council Annual General Meeting.
Subject to the modification agreed, the paper was unanimously recommended to be put forward to full Council in September.
6
Appointment of Independent Persons
1. To update the Committee on progress made on the appointment of Independent Persons.
2. The Committee to nominate two members to join the interview panel for the Independent Persons.
2. The Committee to nominate two members to join the interview panel for the Independent Persons.
Minutes
Members of the Committee noted that an advert for the Independent Persons vacancies would be published soon, via social media and the Council’s website.
It was unanimously agreed that the Chair and Vice-Chair should join the interviewing panel for the role.
It was unanimously agreed that the Chair and Vice-Chair should join the interviewing panel for the role.
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