Minutes for Standards Committee meeting, Jul 13 2010, 10.00AM official page

To consider any appeals in accordance with Procedure Rule 25 of the Access to Information Procedure Rules (in the event of an Appeal the press and public will be excluded)

(*In accordance with Procedure Rule 25, written notice of an appeal must be received by the Chief Democratic Services Officer at least 24 hours before the meeting)

1          To highlight reports or appendices which officers have identified as containing exempt information, and where officers consider that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information, for the reasons outlined in the report.

2          To consider whether or not to accept the officers recommendation in respect of the above information.

3          If so, to formally pass the following resolution:-

            RESOLVED – That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following parts of the agenda designated as containing exempt information on the grounds that it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the press and public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information, as follows:-

To identify items which have been admitted to the agenda by the Chair for consideration

(The special circumstances shall be specified in the minutes)

To declare any personal/prejudicial interests for the purpose of Section 81(3) of the Local Government Act 2000 and paragraphs 8 to 12 of the Members’ Code of Conduct

To approve the minutes of the Standards Committee meeting held on 22^nd April 2010.

To note the minutes of the Assessment Sub-Committee meetings held on 13^th April and 11^th June 2010.

To note the minutes of the Review Sub-Committee meetings held on 12^th May and 11^th June 2010.

To note the minutes of the Consideration Sub-Committee meeting held on 11^th June 2010.

To note the minutes of the Hearings Sub-Committee meetings held on 11^th May and 17^th May 2010.

To note the minutes of the Corporate Governance and Audit Committee meetings held on 14^th April, 12^th May and 23^rd June 2010.

To receive a report of the Chief Officer (Human Resources) providing an updated list of politically restricted posts, and seeking approval of an amended procedure for the consideration of Politically Restricted Posts, in line with legislative changes.

To receive a report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Corporate Governance) providing Members of the Standards Committee with a  progress report in relation to all complaints received under the Members’ Code of Conduct from 1^st January to 30^th June 2010.

To receive a report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Corporate Governance) asking the Standards Committee to consider amendments to Section 4 of the Standards Committee Procedure Rules and the general procedure for conducting hearings in light of the two recent cases heard by the Hearings Sub-Committee.

To receive a report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Corporate Governance) considering amendments to the local assessment process in Leeds, including the way that complaints are handled prior to being presented to the Assessment Sub-Committee, and  presenting revised terms of reference for the four Sub-Committees, along with minor amendments to the Standards Committee Procedure Rules, for the Standards Committee’s approval.

To receive a report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Corporate Governance) informing Members of the Standards Committee of new Members’ declaration of acceptance of office and undertaking to comply with the Code of Conduct, information on the Members’ register of interests, and training of Members.

To receive a report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Corporate Governance) presenting statistical data in relation to declarations of gifts and hospitality recorded by Members during the period 2009/10, and drawing comparisons with declarations made by Members in 2008/09 and 2007/08.

To receive a report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Corporate Governance) providing summaries of recent decisions made by the First-Tier Tribunal (Local Government Standards in England)  in its role of determining allegations of misconduct.

To receive a report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Corporate Governance) outlining the contents of the draft work programme for the remainder of the 2010/11 municipal year.