Hart Borough Council
Councillors:
33
Wards:
11
Committees:
14
Meetings (2025):
61
Meetings (2024):
60
Meeting
Standards Committee - Hart
Meeting Times
Scheduled Time
Start:
Tuesday, 24th June 2025
7:00 PM
Tuesday, 24th June 2025
7:00 PM
End:
Tuesday, 24th June 2025
11:00 PM
Tuesday, 24th June 2025
11:00 PM
Meeting Status
Status:
Confirmed
Confirmed
Date:
24 Jun 2025
24 Jun 2025
Location:
Council Chamber
Council Chamber
Meeting Attendees
Committee Member
Julia Ambler
Present, as expected
Committee Member
David Argent
Apologies
Committee Member
Portfolio Holder - Digital and Communications
Committee Member
Portfolio Holder - Community Safety and Regulatory Services
Committee Member
Chair of Council
Committee Member
Patricia Monks
Present, as expected
Officer
Contracts & Procurement Manager; Monitoring Officer
Ashley Grist
In attendance
Officer
Committee and Member Services Manager
Sharon Black
Democratic Services
In attendance
Officer
Administrator
Expected
Agenda
1
Election of Chair for 2025/26
To elect a Chair for 2025/26 from among the members of the Committee
Minutes
Julia Ambler was elected as Chair of the Standards and Appeals Committee for 2025/26.
Proposed by: Cllr Clarke; Seconded by: Cllr Collins; Unanimously agreed
Proposed by: Cllr Clarke; Seconded by: Cllr Collins; Unanimously agreed
2
Election of Vice-Chair for 2025/26
To elect a Vice-Chair for 2025/26 from amongst the members of the Committee
Minutes
Cllr Jane Worlock was elected as Vice-Chair of the Standards and Appeals Committee for 2025/26.
Proposed by: Cllr Clarke; Seconded by: Cllr Collins; Unanimously agreed
Proposed by: Cllr Clarke; Seconded by: Cllr Collins; Unanimously agreed
3
Minutes of Previous Meeting
The Minutes of the meeting on 15 August 2024 are attached to be confirmed and signed as a correct record.
Attachments:
- Document Minutes , 15/08/2024 Standards Committee 16 Jun 2025
Minutes
The minutes of the meeting held on 15 August 2024 were agreed as a correct record and were signed by the Chair.
The Chair thanked the Monitoring Officer for circulating the report requested at the last meeting on the number of complaints received under the Code of Conduct, and the stage at which they were resolved. This information was noted.
Proposed by: Julia Ambler Seconded by:Cllr Worlock Unanimously agreed by those members who were present at the meeting.
The Chair thanked the Monitoring Officer for circulating the report requested at the last meeting on the number of complaints received under the Code of Conduct, and the stage at which they were resolved. This information was noted.
Proposed by: Julia Ambler Seconded by:Cllr Worlock Unanimously agreed by those members who were present at the meeting.
4
Apologies for Absence
To receive any apologies for absence from Members*
*Note: Members are asked to email Committee Services before the meeting as soon as they know they will be absent.
*Note: Members are asked to email Committee Services before the meeting as soon as they know they will be absent.
Minutes
Apologies for absence had been received from David Argent and Cllr Dorn, who was being substituted by Cllr Forster.
5
Declarations of Interest
To declare disclosable pecuniary, and any other, interests*.
*Note: Members are asked to email Committee Services before the meeting as soon as they know they may have an interest to declare.
*Note: Members are asked to email Committee Services before the meeting as soon as they know they may have an interest to declare.
Minutes
There were no declarations of interest.
6
Code of Practice on Good Governance for Local Authority Statutory Officers
To recommend to Council the Code of Practice on Good Governance for Local Authority Statutory Officers at appendix 1, be adopted and be incorporated into the Council’s Constitution.
Recommendation
Standards Committee recommends to Council the Code of Practice on Good Governance for Local Authority Statutory Officers (Code of Practice on Good Governance for Local Authority Statutory Officers or at Appendix 1) be adopted and that the Monitoring Officer be authorised to make any necessary changes to the Constitution to incorporate the Code into the Council’s Constitution and the respective Officers job descriptions.
Recommendation
Standards Committee recommends to Council the Code of Practice on Good Governance for Local Authority Statutory Officers (Code of Practice on Good Governance for Local Authority Statutory Officers or at Appendix 1) be adopted and that the Monitoring Officer be authorised to make any necessary changes to the Constitution to incorporate the Code into the Council’s Constitution and the respective Officers job descriptions.
Attachments:
- Document Code of Practice on Good Governance for Local Authority Statutory Officers V3 16 Jun 2025
- Document code-of-practice-on-good-governance-for-local-authority-statutory-officers (1) 16 Jun 2025
Minutes
To recommend to Council the Code of Practice on Good Governance for Local Authority Statutory Officers, be adopted and be incorporated into the Council’s Constitution.
Members of the Committee heard that this was a recommended Code of Practice for Councils to adopt to ensure that the roles of the Head of Paid Service, S151 Officer and Monitoring Officer (known as the “golden triangle”) worked together to support better governance and decision making
Members of the Committee questioned:
· Whether there was any consultation on the document before it was published by the three authoring organisations and whether there were alternative best practice guidelines that had been considered
· How would the areas of intent contained within the recommended Code be demonstrated
· How would any breach of the code be dealt with and how would it be ensured that any actions were carried out
The Monitoring Officer explained that any constitutional changes would be required first and that once individual processes and procedures had been reviewed, if it was felt necessary a further report would be brought to the Standards Committee for further consideration.
It was agreed that the Code of Practice be sent to all Members and Parish Councils, drawing their attention to the standards that underpinned the roles of the “golden triangle” officers.
Proposed by: Julia Ambler; Seconded by: Cllr Worlock; Unanimously agreed.
Decision:
Standards Committee recommends to Council the Code of Practice on Good Governance for Local Authority Statutory Officers (Code of Practice on Good Governance for Local Authority Statutory Officers be adopted and that the Monitoring Officer be authorised to make any necessary changes to the Constitution to incorporate the Code into the Council’s Constitution and the respective Officers job descriptions.
Members of the Committee heard that this was a recommended Code of Practice for Councils to adopt to ensure that the roles of the Head of Paid Service, S151 Officer and Monitoring Officer (known as the “golden triangle”) worked together to support better governance and decision making
Members of the Committee questioned:
· Whether there was any consultation on the document before it was published by the three authoring organisations and whether there were alternative best practice guidelines that had been considered
· How would the areas of intent contained within the recommended Code be demonstrated
· How would any breach of the code be dealt with and how would it be ensured that any actions were carried out
The Monitoring Officer explained that any constitutional changes would be required first and that once individual processes and procedures had been reviewed, if it was felt necessary a further report would be brought to the Standards Committee for further consideration.
It was agreed that the Code of Practice be sent to all Members and Parish Councils, drawing their attention to the standards that underpinned the roles of the “golden triangle” officers.
Proposed by: Julia Ambler; Seconded by: Cllr Worlock; Unanimously agreed.
Decision:
Standards Committee recommends to Council the Code of Practice on Good Governance for Local Authority Statutory Officers (Code of Practice on Good Governance for Local Authority Statutory Officers be adopted and that the Monitoring Officer be authorised to make any necessary changes to the Constitution to incorporate the Code into the Council’s Constitution and the respective Officers job descriptions.
Future Meetings
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