Agenda and minutes

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Contact: Rebecca Owen, Democratic Services Officer 

Items
No. Item

220.

Apologies and substitutions

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors Boothby, Lay, Morrell and Wright.

221.

Minutes of previous meeting pdf icon PDF 33 KB

To confirm the minutes of the previous meeting.

Minutes:

It was moved by Councillor Cartwright, seconded by Councillor Witherford and

 

RESOLVED – the minutes of the meeting held on 16 March 2016 be confirmed and signed by the Chairman.

 

A member requested that an update on the progress of code of conduct complaints be included on each agenda. The Monitoring Officer agreed to provide this.

222.

Declarations of interest

To receive verbally from members any disclosures which they are required to make in accordance with the Council’s code of conduct or in pursuance of Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992. This is in addition to the need for such disclosure to be also given when the relevant matter is reached on the agenda.

Minutes:

No interests were declared at this stage.

223.

Corporate complaints 2015-16 pdf icon PDF 103 KB

To inform members of the number of complaints received under the corporate complaints procedure and via the Local Government Ombudsman, and the outcome of these.

Minutes:

The Committee received the annual update on corporate complaints received for 2015/16. The increase in the number of complaints year on year, in line with the national trend, was acknowledged.

 

A member expressed concern about the number of complaints receiving a response outside of the ten-day deadline and, whilst it was noted that this was a relatively small number, members were informed that the Corporate Operations Board was monitoring this.

 

Further concern was expressed about the increase in complaints about the housing repairs service and in response it was acknowledged that there had been an increase due to issues with a particular contractor, but that these had been addressed and performance had improved greatly since.

 

It was moved by Councillor Crooks, seconded by Councillor Witherford and

 

RESOLVED – the report be noted.

224.

Statutory Safety Committee minutes pdf icon PDF 89 KB

Minutes of the council’s Statutory Safety Committee, for information.

Minutes:

Members were reminded that, following the discontinuation of Local Joint and Safety Panel, it had been agreed that minutes of the Statutory Safety Committee would be brought to the Ethical Governance & Personnel Committee for information.

 

A member expressed concern in relation to minute 4E of the meeting on 11 August and asked whether those who repeatedly required replacement PPE were being addressed. It was agreed that the Health and Safety Officer would be asked for an update which would be provided to the next meeting.

225.

Matters from which the public may be excluded

To consider the passing of a resolution under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 excluding the public from the undermentioned item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1 and 10 of Schedule 12A of the 1972 Act.

Minutes:

On the motion of Councillor Cartwright seconded by Councillor Crooks, it was

 

RESOLVED – in accordance with section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1 and 10 of Part I of Schedule 12A of that Act.

226.

Complaints 2016/04, 05 & 06

Members are asked to consider complaints 2016/04, 05 and 06 which are combined into a single report as they relate to the same matter.

Minutes:

Consideration was given to complaints about three parish councillors which were considered together due to the circumstances surrounding the complaint being the same. After hearing the background to the complaint and the outcome of conversations with the complainant and subject members, members of the committee felt that there had been a breakdown of relationships within the parish council over the matter and that any investigation would be based on one person’s word against another, which would not lead to an outcome for either party.

 

It was moved by Councillor Cartwright and seconded by Councillor O’Shea that no further action be taken, but that the Parish Council members be reminded of the Nolan Principles and the Code of Conduct and their obligations to comply with these. Upon being put to the vote, the motion was unanimously CARRIED and it was

 

RESOLVED – no further action be taken, but members of the parish council be reminded of their obligations to comply with the Nolan Principles and the Code of Conduct.