Minutes for Standards Committee meeting, Sep 20 2010, 6.00PM official page

(a)            Communications (if any) relating to business on the agenda.

(b)            Apologies for absence.

Members must clearly state the nature of the interest, and indicate whether it is Personal or Personal and Prejudicial.  The responsibility for declaring an interest rests solely with the Member concerned.

Personal interests: A personal interest arises in relation to any matter which might reasonably be regarded as affecting, to a greater extent than other Council Tax payers, ratepayers or inhabitants of the authority’s area, the well‑being or financial position of the Member or of a relevant person.  Members need only declare a personal interest at a meeting when they address the meeting on that business.

Personal and Prejudicial interests: A Member has a personal and prejudicial interest in a matter if the interest is one which a member of the public with knowledge of the relevant facts would reasonably regard as so significant that it is likely to prejudice the Member’s judgement of the public interest.  In these cases the Member concerned must declare the interest and withdraw from the meeting room while the matter is being considered.  Members with such interests may, however, attend the meeting for the purpose of making representations, answering questions or giving evidence relating to the business where the public have a similar right.

Further details and full definitions of personal and prejudicial interests are set out in the Councillors’ Code of Conduct (Section 5.1 of the Constitution).

To confirm and sign the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 24 June 2010.

In accordance with the Constitution no discussion shall take place upon the minutes, except upon their accuracy.

Councillor Morris Bright, Leader of Hertsmere Borough Council, has been invited to attend this meeting to talk to the Committee about his approach to ethical standards and the maintenance of high standards of behaviour

This report updates the Committee with the latest information on the future of Standards for England and proposes action locally to ensure the highest standards of ethical behaviour remains in place at Hertsmere.

Report ST/10/21 provides information on the outcome of Local Government Ombudsman cases and on complaints made under the Council’s own complaint procedure during the year.

This report provides information on recent guidance and a protocol issued by Standards for England.

In accordance with S100B(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, amended by the Access to Information Act of 1985, no urgent business may be raised unless it has been approved by the Chairman.  The item and reason for urgency must be announced at the start of the meeting.