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NOTICE OF MEETING

COMMITTEE:           STANDARDS      

DAY/DATE:              TUESDAY, 3RD OCTOBER 2006

TIME:                      2.30PM

VENUE:                   EAST COMMITTEE ROOM    

                               MUNICIPAL BUILDINGS

                               EARLE STREET

                               CREWE

Despatch date:     25th September 2006

Enquiries to:         Diane Moulson

Tel: 01270 537026

Fax: 01270 537605

Email: agendas@crewe-nantwich.gov.uk   

Chair:    Mr N Briers

             2 Yew Tree Close

             Bulkeley

            Nr Malpas            

To:  Members of the Standards Committee

      Chief Executive, Executive Directors

      Assistant Chief Executives

      Other Members of the Borough Council (front sheets only) 

      Local Press and Radio

 

Notes for Members of the Public

The Standards Committee consists of 5 elected Members, 2 Independent Members and 1 Parish Council Representative.  Mr Nigel Briers is the Chair.  Of the elected Members there are 2 Labour, 2 Conservative and 1 Liberal Democrat Members.

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.  A “No Smoking” policy operates in the Municipal Buildings.

 

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 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 Meeting

To approve as correct the record of the meeting held on 11th July 2006 (3).  


4.                  Retirement of Council’s Monitoring Officer

Following the retirement of Mr Alan Warburton from the Borough Council on 29th September 2006, Mr Chris Henshall will become Acting Monitoring Officer.  Mr Henshall was previously Deputy Monitoring Officer to Mr Warburton.      


5.                  Compliments, Comments and Complaints Scheme

To consider communications received by the Council since the last meeting of the Committee relating to the Compliments, Comments and Complaints Scheme (5).  A short presentation will be made to Members. 


6.                  Exclusion of Press and Public

The following item on the agenda has been withheld from public circulation and deposit pursuant to Section 100(B)(2) of the Local Government Act 1972 on the grounds that the matter should be determined with the press and public excluded.                                                                

The Committee is invited to RESOLVE that the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following matter pursuant to Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A (as amended) of the Act.

(NOTE: Paragraph 1 - information relating to an individual.)   


7.                 Applications for Position of Independent non-Council Member to the Standards Committee

Applications have been invited from members of the public to sit as an Independent non-Council member on the Standards Committee.

7 applications have been received for consideration.  A summary of each of the applications is attached, together with letters of application. 

The Committee is invited to identify and agree a short-list of candidates for interview. 


8.                  Re-admittance of Press and Public 

The Committee is invited to re-admit the press and public.


9.                  Date of Next Meeting/Development Session

9.1                Interviews for the post of Independent non-Council member to the Standards Committee.

The Committee is invited to agree a date to interview the short-listed candidates for the position of Independent non-Council Member to the Standards Committee. 

As the recommendation of the Committee will be submitted to Council for determination at its meeting on 1st November, the interviews need to be scheduled on a date between 12th October and 20th October 2006. 

9.2.             Date of Development Session       

At its meeting on 11th July 2006, the Committee agreed to hold a development session on Thursday 2nd November 2006 to review the procedures to be implemented in the event of a hearing being called.   

Given that the appointment of the third Independent non-Council member to the Standards Committee will not be considered and resolved until Wednesday 1st November and in light of the changes to officer support, the Committee is invited to reaffirm or reschedule the date of the development session.       

9.3             Date of Next Scheduled Meeting

14th November 2006            

 

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.         

 

This agenda can be made available in larger text on request.