(Monitoring Officer) To discuss issues arising from recent Sub-Committee meetings.
Minutes:
The Committee considered a schedule regarding current allegations made about the conduct of District and Parish/Town Councillors.
Members noted that in relation to case EFDC 9/2009 the Assessment Sub?Committee had decided to take no further action on the matter, although the member concerned had not listed one of his properties on his register of interest form until the matter had been drawn to his attention as part of the investigation.
The Committee noted in relation to case EFDC 3/2010 that whilst the subject member had agreed to participate in mediation the complainant had not responded.
In relation to case EFDC 6/2010, the Review Sub-Committee had decided to take no action on the allegation but had drawn attention to certain Council procedures.
The Committee was advised in relation to case 4/2010 that the Assessment Sub?Committee had accepted the Investigating Officer's finding of no failure to observe the Code of Conduct but had agreed that the subject member had shown an error of judgement in continuing to debate a matter at a public meeting.
The Monitoring Officer and the Deputy Monitoring Officer reminded members of the background to the Direction from Standards for England in relation to Nazeing Parish Council which affected cases EFDC 6/2009 and EFDC 8/2009. The Committee noted that two of the five required training sessions for members of Nazeing Parish Council in relation to proper conduct at meetings, standing orders, the role of the Chairman and the role of the Clerk had been held. However the trainer who was very enthusiastic and experienced in training on these issues had expressed doubts about the benefits of continuing with further training sessions in view of the attitude of several members of the Parish Council. The Deputy Monitoring Officer advised that a formal report was expected from the trainer on progress to date and the response of the Parish Council members to the training.
The Committee was advised that following a debate at a full District Council meeting the Nazeing Parish Council had been invited to make a contribution towards the costs of the training of its members as required by the Direction. In response the Clerk of the Parish Council had stated that the Parish Council required details of the costs and had suggested that further training sessions should be postponed whilst the Parish Council decided whether to include appropriate provision within its precept for 2011/12.
RESOLVED:
Case EFDC 9/2009
(1) That members of the District Council be reminded of the need to provide details of all of the properties in which they have a beneficial interest on their Register of Interest forms;
(2) That the Clerks of Parish and Town Councils be asked to draw the attention of their members to this requirement;
(3) That this case be removed from the schedule of outstanding cases;
Case EFDC 3/2010
(4) That this case be removed from the schedule of outstanding cases;
Case EFDC 6/2010
(5) That the Chairmen of Committees, Sub?Committees and Panels be encouraged to attend training on the chairing of meetings;
(6) That the Chairmen of the District Development Control Committee and the Area Plans Sub?Committees be asked to consider adopting a consistent approach to the circulation of written documents and photographs by public speakers at meetings;
Case EFDC 4/2010
(7) That future training in relation to the Code of Conduct include the need for councillors to deal with the concerns raised by members of the public carefully and to be aware of the need to comply with the requirements of the Code in all forums when attending in an official capacity;
Case Nos EFDC 6/2009 and EFDC 8/2009
(8) That having regard to the attitude towards training of several members of the Nazeing Parish Council, the third training session due to take place on 20 January 2011 be postponed and that no further work be undertaken in relation to the fourth and fifth sessions;
(9) That the Monitoring Officer send the report, when received, of the trainer appointed to undertake the training to Standards for England together with a request to review its Direction as despite the best endeavours of the Monitoring Officer in seeking to comply with the requirements of the Direction it is not considered that further sessions will be beneficial or that public funds should continue to be applied, particularly in the current economic climate, to the training of members who are clearly not prepared to participate in a reasonable manner;
(10) That further consideration be given to this matter at the next meeting of the Committee in the light of the response from Standards for England; and
(11) That the Monitoring Officer liaise with the trainer appointed to undertake the training as to the contractual position for delivering the training.
(Recorded in accordance with Council Procedure Rules 16.5 and 25 that Parish Councillor Mrs D Borton abstained from voting on resolutions (8) to (11) above).