Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED: (on a motion by Councillor Bolster, seconded by Councillor Badcock and carried nem. con.) that Ms. A. Griffiths be elected Chairman for the 2011/12 Council Year. 

RESOLVED: (on a motion by Councillor Bolster, seconded by Councillor Badcock and carried nem. con.) that Dr. N. Alphey be elected Deputy Chairman for the 2011/12 Council Year. 

The Committee is asked to note that the following existing subordinate bodies fall within the responsibility of this Committee. Appointments to them are not needed at the present time.

RESOLVED: to note that the subordinate bodies shown on the Agenda fell within the responsibility of this Committee and that appointments to them were not needed at the present time.   

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 24 June 2010 (ST6) and to receive for information any matters arising on them.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 24 June 2010 (ST6)  were approved and signed.

Minute 46/10 (vetting & barring scheme)

The Monitoring Officer undertook to update the position as details became available.

Meeting Rooms

Councillor Seale understood that it was possible for proceedings in the Committee Rooms to be heard outside the Rooms - through for example a hearing aid.  This would be a matter of concern particularly in the case of private discussions.   Officers were asked to investigate. 

Report by the Chairman of the Standards Committee (ST8)

The report summarises the work of the Committee over the last year. Council will consider the report at its meeting on 14 June 2011.

The Committee is RECOMMENDED to consider and endorse the report.

Ms. Griffiths, Chairman of the Committee presented her Annual Report (ST8) which summarised the work of the Committee over the last year. Council would consider the report at its meeting on 14 June 2011.

RESOLVED: to endorse the report and thank the Chairman for her work and the report.

Report by the Monitoring Officer and County Solicitor

The Monitoring Officer reports annually to the Standards Committee on governance and conduct issues.  This report summarises progress, developments and the changing context over the past year. 

The Committee is RECOMMENDED to consider and endorse the report.

The Committee considered the Annual Monitoring Officer Report (ST9).

The following key matters arose during debate:

In relation to declarations of gifts & hospitality:

• Members asked how long declarations stayed on the Register.  Officers were asked to remind members.
• Officers were asked to clarify the position about requirements for declaration where a councillor was a member of more than one council.

Scrutiny: 

Officers were asked to clarify the ‘call-in’ process where a scrutiny committee had provided recommendation/advice/comment on the topic to Cabinet prior to Cabinet consideration.

Paragraph 32 (informal resolution of issues of concern):

Members considered that it would be helpful to include in the Report the number of these issues in future.

Officers were asked to remind / update members on the current definition of ‘bribery’.

RESOLVED: to endorse the Monitoring Officer Report and  thank the Monitoring Officer and team for their report and work  .

The Monitoring Officer has produced draft guidance to assist councillors with their roles and responsibilities for Councillors appointed to represent the Council on Outside Bodies.

The Committee is RECOMMENDED to consider and endorse the guidance to members.

The Committee considered draft guidance (ST10) which the Monitoring Officer had produced to assist councillors with their roles and responsibilities for Councillors appointed to represent the Council on Outside Bodies.

At members’ request officers undertook to:

• remind the relevant councillors about reporting requirements;

and

• circulate the Guidance to all members.

RESOLVED: to endorse the guidance to members.  

This report advises the Committee on the impending changes to the standards regime envisaged in the Localism Bill.

The Committee is RECOMMENDED to consider and comment upon the implications for Oxfordshire County Council of the changes to the standards regime contained in the Localism Bill and as outlined in this report.

The Committee considered the update on the impending changes to the Standards regime (ST11) and commented as follows:

·        the Committee supported seeking political group members’ and independent members’ views on possible future arrangements for investigating / taking action on serious issues;

and

·        Officers were asked to liaise with the Chairman for a date for the Committee members to meet informally when details of the impending changes became available, possibly in the Autumn, to discuss with the Monitoring Officer the Localism Bill/Act and the options available prior to formal Council reporting.