NOTICE OF MEETING

Despatch date:        12^th May 2008         

Enquiries to:            Diane Moulson   

Tel:                         01270 537026

Fax:                        01270 537605

Email:                     agendas@crewe-nantwich.gov.uk      

To:  Members of the Standards Committee,

Chief Executive, Executive Directors. Strategic Managers  

Other Members of the Borough Council (front sheets only) 

Local Press and Radio

Notes for Members of the Public

The Standards Committee consists of 6 elected Members, 3 Independent Members and 1 Parish Council Representative.  Mr Nigel Briers is the current Chair. 

The Borough Council welcomes and encourages members of the public to attend its Committee, Board and Council meetings.

If you plan to attend, please report to the Reception Desk in the Municipal Buildings, where you will be provided with a Visitor’s Pass.

Car parking is not available at the Municipal Buildings, but there are several town centre car parks.  There is a disabled access to the rear of the Municipal Buildings, and this can be accessed through the side door on Vernon Way.  Please press the button for attention, and someone will meet you and escort you through to the main reception area.

You are asked to remain quiet whilst the meeting is taking place, and to enter and leave the meeting room, or public gallery of the Council Chamber, as quietly as possible.  Please ensure that if you have a mobile phone or pager, it is switched off for the duration of the meeting.

You are not allowed to have drinks or food in the meeting rooms, nor in the Public Gallery. 

Fire Evacuation

If the fire alarm rings, you should make your way to the nearest exit with your belongings, as quickly as possible, and leave the building.  Please follow any instructions from staff about evacuation routes.

Copies of the agenda will be available if you attend. Agendas are also made available on the Internet and can be accessed via the Council’s website – see front page for details.

On occasions, members of the press and public will be excluded from the meetings when the business to be transacted is of a confidential nature, for example, dealing with individual people, contracts and financial affairs of other parties.

If you require any further information, please contact Diane Moulson the Committee Officer (details on front page).

AGENDA

Hearing Procedure           

1.                  Order of Business

1.1       The purpose of the meeting is to consider a complaint made by Mr Ronald Owen against Bunbury Parish Councillor Dennis Burrows. The allegation relates to a claim of assault by Councillor Burrows on Mr Owen following a site inspection by Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council’s Development Control Committee on 17 August 2007 contrary to the Local Authorities (Model Code of Conduct) Order 2007.      

1.2             The papers in this matter have been supplied only to the Parish Councillor who is the subject of the complaint and Members of the Standards Committee and will remain confidential until the hearing. 

1.3       The procedure to be followed at the Hearing has been supplied to members of the Committee and will be available at the meeting.                                 

1.4       At the commencement of the meeting, the Committee will deal with the following preliminary matters:- 

a)         Declarations of Interest

Members to declare any personal or prejudicial interests which they have in any item of business on the agenda and, if necessary, to leave the meeting prior to discussion of that item.

Members who also serve as County, Town or Parish Councillors or are Members of the Shadow Authority for Cheshire East are reminded of the need to make declarations in respect of any item which directly concerns the business of the appropriate authority.

Declarations are a personal matter for each Member to decide.  Whilst Officers will advise on the Code of Conduct and its interpretation, the decision to declare, or not, is the responsibility of the Member, based on the particular circumstances.

b)                 Quorum

            To confirm that the meeting is quorate.  

c)                  Procedure

            The Chairman will explain the procedure to those present. 

d)         Exclusion of Press and Public   

            The Committee will consider whether the hearing should be held in public and the documentation made available to the public.  The advice of the Standards Board for England and the weight of legislation is that the matters should generally be dealt with in public.  

1.5       The Committee will consider the report of Mr W R Graham, appointed to  investigate the allegations and will hear from Councillor Burrows and his  witness, Mr C Knowles.      

NOTE:

In accordance with the Health and Safety at Work Act the Council is required to notify those attending meetings of the fire evacuation procedures.  A copy has previously been circulated to Members and instructions are located in all rooms within the Civic Suite.