Agenda and decisions

This is where Councillors who are attending as substitutes will say for whom they are attending.

Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Councillors Homewood. The Chair reported that Councillor Holmes had been replaced by Councillor Armer, with effect from this meeting.

To receive the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 11 September 2019.

That the minutes of the meeting held on the 11 September 2019 be approved as a correct record.

The Councillors will be asked to say if there are any items on the Agenda in which they have disclosable pecuniary interests, which would prevent them from participating in any discussion of the items or participating in any vote upon the items, or any other interests.

It was noted that Councillors Armer, Bolt, Munro and Davies were Members of either a Town or Parish Council.

Most debates take place in public. This only changes when there is a need to consider certain issues, for instance, commercially sensitive information or details concerning an individual. You will be told at this point whether there are any items on the Agenda which are to be discussed in private.

It was noted that agenda items would be considered in public session.

The Committee will receive any petitions and hear any deputations from members of the public. A deputation is where up to five people can attend the meeting and make a presentation on some particular issue of concern. A member of the public can also hand in a petition at the meeting but that petition should relate to something on which the body has powers and responsibilities.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 10 (2), Members of the Public should provide at least 24 hours’ notice of presenting a deputation.  

No deputations or petitions were considered.

The report advises of the proposed arrangements for the review of the Standards process and seeks the Committee’s recommendations as to how this review be conducted.

Contact: David Stickley, Legal Services

RESOLVED-

1. That the scope of the review include the Committee for Standards in Public Life recommendations set out in 2.1.5 of the report, specifically whether they should be voluntarily adopted and, if so, how that can be done.

2. In addition, the review include the discussion points set out at 2.2.1 of the report.

3. That the results of any consultation be submitted to a future meeting of the Standards Committee.

4. That the consultees as set out in 6.2 of the report be agreed subject to the inclusion of individuals who have encountered the current standards process.

5. That, with the exception of wider members of the public, the method of consultation include targeted requests to the identified consultees referred to in (4) above using a questionnaire format that will encourage open answers.

6. That consultation notices be posted on Kirklees Council’s website and social media channels pointing to an on line survey available via Kirklees Council’s website and social media channels to encourage members of the public and other council officers to respond.

7. That the contents of the proposed consultation survey, be referred to Members of this Committee to allow for any recommendations with regards to questions.

8. That authority be delegated to the Monitoring Officer to draft the survey in accordance with members’ views as well as the general arrangements for the review in consultation with the Chair of Standards and to ask the Monitoring Officer to prepare a report setting out the feedback from the review as well as any proposals arising from it for consideration at the next meeting of the Standards Committee.