Despatch date:                 21^st July 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 currently consists of 6 elected Members, 3 Independent Members and 2 Parish Council Representatives.  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

1.                  Apologies

2.                  Declarations of Interest

Any Member present (including non-Committee Members) to declare any personal or prejudicial interests and the nature of that interest, 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 mater 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.

3.                  Record of Meetings

3.1             To approve as correct the record of the meeting held on 22 January 2008 (3A).

3.2             To approve as correct the record of the hearing held on 20 May 2008 [Cllr J Jones] (3B).

3.3             To approve as correct the record of the hearing held on 20 May 2008 [Parish Cllr D Burrows] (3C).

4.         Standards Committee (England) Regulations 2008 and the Local Assessment of Complaints

The report of the Borough Solicitor   (4)

i)                Advises Members of the Committee’s new responsibilities for the initial assessment of all allegations under the Members’ Code of Conduct;

ii)               Seeks to establish three sub-committees under the new framework to carry out the local assessment of complaints;

iii)              Suggests a process for dealing with complaints received; and

iv)              Sets out proposed amendments to the Council’s Constitution to reflect changes to Committee’s Role and functions; such changes to be recommended for adoption to full Council.           

5.         Nominations: Parish Council Representative

To recommend to Council the nominations for the posts of Parish Representative and Deputy Parish Representative as set out in the attached report (5).  

6.         Standards Committee Hearings: 20 May 2008          

The Committee is invited to evaluate the procedure applied to its recent hearings held on 20^th May 2008 (6), identifying for            discussion any areas of concern or suggestions for improvement.     

7.         Cheshire Standards Conference: 20 June 2008

The Chairman and Monitoring Officer to feedback to the Committee on the Cheshire Standards Conference; held on 20^th June 2008 at Manchester Metropolitan University.     

8.         Standards Board for England Seventh Annual Assembly of Standards Committees: 13/14 October 2008

The Borough Council has reserved one place at the Standards Board for England Seventh Annual Assembly of Standards       Committees, which will be held at the ICC Birmingham on 13/14 October 2008.

The Committee is invited to nominate a Member of the Committee  to attend the Conference.    

9.         Date of Next Meeting

            9^th September 2008

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.