Issue - meetings

3.15 p.m.

Report by the Monitoring Officer

The Local Government Association is consulting nationally on a Model Code of Member Conduct. This was drafted in response to a call to do so from the Committee on Standards in Public Life. 

The Audit & Committee’s role includes ethical governance for the Council including member conduct.  The Committee is therefore invited to consider responding to the consultation on behalf of the Council. 

This report outlines the extent of the consultation and the Council’s own recent comments on member ethical governance. It also suggests how the Committee might wish to formulate comments ahead of the consultation deadline of 14 August 2020.

The Committee is RECOMMENDED to:

(a)  Consider the Local Government Association’s potential Model Code of Member Conduct;

(b)  Determine if the Committee wishes to respond to the national consultation on behalf of the Council; and if so

(c)  Establish a cross-party task and finish group of the Committee to reply on behalf of the Council via the Monitoring Officer; and to

(d)  Ask the Monitoring Officer to liaise with his colleagues in Oxfordshire’s District Councils, and with the Oxfordshire Association of Local Councils, to share any comments made in response to the consultation.

Recommendations agreed.

Glenn Watson introduced the report and highlighted that this is an opportunity to take part in a national debate following a call to do so from the Committee on Standards in Public Life.

Officers responded to member’s concerns as follows:

• There have been increasing issues with some councils regarding social media, and the LGA are attempting to bring some consistency to members’ behaviours.  It is important to consider what standard Oxfordshire County Council wishes to set reputationally.
• There have been a small number of complaints received over the past couple of years, the Code will act as a reference point for the LA if a member has fallen short of the Code.
• The current Code of Conduct is an outline of what is required, and has functioned very well in the past, however updated Codes are reflecting the increase of legal input in cases raised, and an updated Code would offer assurances of any procedural issues that may arise.

Members were agreed on a small proportionate task and finish group set up and led by Glenn Watson.  Due to the timescales involved it was agreed that the group would circulate the views of members of the Committee and feedback virtually via email.

RESOLVED to:

(a)    Consider the Local Government Association’s potential Model Code of Member Conduct;

(b)    Determine if the Committee wishes to respond to national consultation on behalf of the Council; and if so,

(c)    Establish a cross-party task and finish group of the Committee to reply on behalf of the Council via the Monitoring Officer; and to,

(d)    Ask the Monitoring Officer to liaise with his colleagues in Oxfordshire’s District Councils, and with the Oxfordshire Association of Local Councils, to share any comments made in response to the consultation.