The Committee is asked to note any apologies for absence and substitutions received from Members.

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillor Amos (with Councillor Alexander substituting) and David Irvine (one of the Council’s appointed Independent Persons).

To confirm and sign as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting of the Standards Committee, held on

It was moved by Councillor Land, seconded by Councillor Harris and:-

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Standards Committee, held on Wednesday 20 March 2019, be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Councillors are invited to declare any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests or Personal Interest, and the nature of it, in relation to any item on the agenda.

There were none on this occasion.

Subject to providing two working days’ notice, a Member of the Committee may ask the Chairman of the Committee a question on any matter in relation to which the Council has powers or duties which affect the Tendring District and which falls within the terms of reference of the Committee.

There were none on this occasion.

As this is the first meeting of the Standards Committee following the District Council elections in May 2019, the Council’s Monitoring Officer will introduce Members of the Committee to its terms of reference.

As this was the first meeting of the Committee following the District Council elections in May, the Council’s Monitoring Officer (Lisa Hastings) explained the terms of reference and delegated powers of the Standards Committee and also the Town and Parish Councils’ Standards Sub-Committee and responded to Members’ questions thereon.

The Committee noted the foregoing.

The Monitoring Officer will update the Committee on the Members’ Code of Conduct training that was provided to Members as part of the post-election Members’ Induction process.

The Monitoring Officer updated the Committee on the Members’ Code of Conduct training that had been provided to Members as part of the post-election Members’ Induction process.

After discussion, it was moved by Councillor Land, seconded by Councillor J Henderson and:-

RESOLVED that –

(a)   the Monitoring Officer be requested to arrange a further session of training on the Members’ Code of Conduct for those Members who did not attend on 15 May 2019; and

(b)     the Committee stresses once again the importance of all Members receiving training on the Members’ Code of Conduct.

Further to Minute 53(4) of the meeting of the Committee held on 20 March 2019, the Monitoring Officer will give an update on the progress being made on the implementation of the CSPL’s recommendations.

Further to Minute 53(4) of the meeting of the Committee held on 20 March 2019, the Monitoring Officer gave an update on the progress being made on the implementation of the Committee on Standards in Public Life’s (CSPL) recommendations.

The Committee had before it a summary of the issues, overall findings and recommendations arising from the CSPL’s review which formed the basis of the Monitoring Officer’s update.

Further to an undertaking given at the last meeting of the Committee, the Monitoring Officer outlined the Council’s current position in regards to professional indemnity cover for Members, Officers and the Independent Persons. She confirmed that there was no business need at present for such general cover but that decisions would be taken as needed on their individual merits.

Following a discussion of the issues arising in the update the Monitoring Officer undertook to submit to the next meeting of the Committee a breakdown of:-

(1)   which of the CSPL’s recommendations required changes in legislation;

(2)   which of the CSPL’s ‘good practice’ recommendations could be adopted and implemented straight away by local authorities; and

(3)   which of the ‘good practice’ recommendations referred to in (2) above this Council has already implemented.

It was then moved by Councillor Alexander, seconded by Councillor J Henderson and:-

RESOLVED that the Head of Finance, Revenues and Benefits Services be requested to produce for the Committee’s consideration a business case for providing a general professional indemnity cover for Members, Officers and, in particular, the Independent Persons.

The Monitoring Officer will give an update on existing cases together with general details of new cases, if any.

The Monitoring Officer circulated to the Committee the quarterly schedule, which gave an update on existing cases together with general details of new cases, without providing any names, and went through them with the Committee. There had been no requests for dispensations from Members.

The Committee noted the foregoing.

Pursuant to the provisions of Article 9.05 of the Council’s Constitution, the Committee is requested to appoint three of its members to serve on the Town and Parish Councils’ Standards Sub-Committee for the 2019/2020 Municipal Year.

Pursuant to the provisions of Article 9.05 of the Council’s Constitution, the Committee was requested to appoint three of its members to serve on the Town and Parish Councils’ Standards Sub-Committee for the 2019/2020 Municipal Year.

RESOLVED that –

(a)    subject to (b) below, Councillors Overton, Steady and Wiggins be appointed to serve on the Town and Parish Councils’ Standards Sub-Committee for the 2019/2020 Municipal Year; and

(b)    Councillor Steady’s appointment be subject to confirmation by him of his willingness to serve on the Sub-Committee.