Agenda and minutes

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Contact: Rebecca Owen, Democratic Services Officer 

Items
No. Item

340.

Appointment of the Chairman

Minutes:

Following the nomination of Councillor Cook and seconded by Councillor Cartwright it was

 

                        RESOLVED – that Councillor Camamile be appointed as Chairman for this meeting only.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

341.

Apologies and substitutions

Minutes:

The committee unanimously agreed to waive the council’s standing orders in order to allow the substitution of Councillor Ward.

 

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors O’Shea and Rooney, with the following substitutions authorised in accordance with Council Procedure Rules 4.2 and 4.3:

 

Councillor Nickerson for Councillor O’Shea

Councillor Ward for Councillor Rooney.

342.

Minutes of previous meeting pdf icon PDF 41 KB

To confirm the minutes of the previous meeting.

Minutes:

It was noted that apologies for Councillor Cook had been omitted. Furthermore, Councillor Cartwright highlighted that his request for clarification regarding decisions on the Local Joint and Safety Panel and whether they would in fact follow the same appeals process - was also not included.

 

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

 

                        RESOLVED – the minutes of the meeting held on 24 November be confirmed subject to the above amendments and signed by the Chairman.

343.

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.

344.

Changes to the Attendance Management Framework pdf icon PDF 122 KB

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Corporate Direction).

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee was presented with updated changes to the Attendance Management Framework, following a review of the policy.

 

On the motion of Councillor Cook, seconded by Councillor Witherford, it was

 

                        RESOLVED – the revised policy be adopted.

345.

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 Witherford, it was

 

RESOLVED - in accordance with section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the following items 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.

346.

Complaints 2015/08, 09 & 10

Final investigation report attached.

Minutes:

The Committee received a final investigation report into a complaint about a parish councillor having a personal interest, disregarding the directions given by the Parish Council and acting in a way that contravened its policy guidelines.

 

Councillor Cartwright, seconded by Councillor Witherford, proposed that no further action be taken as no breach had occurred.

 

Following further discussion an amendment was moved by Councillor Cartwright that, whilst there had been no breach of the code of conduct, further action be taken by writing to the subject member to express concerns about their handling of the matter. This amendment was accepted and seconded by Councillor Witherford and subsequently

 

                        RESOLVED –

 

(i)            It be confirmed that the Code of Conduct had not been breached

 

(ii)           Concern be expressed about the subject member’s handling of the matter.

 

Councillor Cook wished for it to be recorded that she voted against this motion.

347.

Complaint 2015 26

Fact-finding report attached.

Minutes:

Members received a fact find report summarising a complaint made against a parish councillor. There was a general consensus that the subject member had not breached the code of conduct, however, there was concern expressed in relation to the parish council’s procedures on declaring interests. It was requested that the Monitoring Officer be asked to take other action by way of writing to the parish council to ask it to strengthen its policies in relation to declaring interests.

 

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

 

                        RESOLVED –

 

(i)            It be confirmed that the Code of Conduct had not been breached

 

(ii)           The Monitoring Officer requests the parish council to consider strengthening its policies in relation to declaring interests.

 

348.

Complaint 2015 30

Fact-finding report attached.

Minutes:

The Committee received a fact finding report which considered whether a Borough Councillor had not acted impartially on a planning matter. The subject member was allegedly overly familiar with an objector and outwardly intimidating to the applicant.

 

On the facts presented, concern was expressed with regard to the tenuous nature of the evidence contained in the report.

The Committee accepted that during public meetings, particularly planning, all actions of a member would be open to scrutiny and that awareness of the public perception was key.

 

The Committee felt that no breach of the code of conduct had occurred, but requested that the Monitoring Officer remind members to be mindful of their actions and that the code of conduct for members of the planning committee be re-circulated.

 

On the motion of Councillor Lay, seconded by Councillor Nickerson, it was

 

                        RESOLVED –

 

(i)            The Code of Conduct had not been breached

 

(ii)           The matter be referred to the Monitoring Officer for other action including advising the Planning Committee members to be mindful of their public actions and re-circulating the code of conduct for members of the planning committee.