COMMITTEE:         STANDARDS      

 

Despatch date:        18^th May 2006

Enquiries to:            Carol Jones                  Tel: 01270 537598

                                                                   Fax: 01270 537605

                               Email: agendas@crewe-nantwich.gov.uk

 

Chair:                      Mr N Briers

                               2 Yew Tree Close

                               Bulkeley

                               Malpas    

 

To:       Members of the Standards Committee (Mr N Briers (Chair),

Councillors D J Cannon, R Cartlidge, P A Hallett, J Hammond, L T Wood, Mr J Ross, Mr D Forrest and Mr P Jackson)

Chief Executive, Executive Directors

Assistant Chief Executives

Local Press and Radio

 

 

 

 

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.

 

 

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 Carol Jones the Committee Officer (details on front page).

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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.

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3.          Record of Meeting

 

To approve as correct the record of the meeting held on 14^th March 2006 (3).     

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4.          Standards Selection Panel

 

To appoint from the Membership of the Committee, a Selection Panel to consider applications and subsequently interview selected applicants for the post of Independent Member to the Standards Committee.   

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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. 

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The Standards Board for England will be holding its Fifth Annual Assembly of Standards Committee in Birmingham on the 16^th/17^th October 2006.

 

The topic for this year's conference will be "Bridging the Gap" concentrating on identifying and closing the gaps between the resources, knowledge and experience needed for effective regulation of ethical standards at a local level.         

 

Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council has reserved one place at the conference and Members are invited to indicate whether they wish to attend.   

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As part of the Member Development Programme for 2006-2007, a session on ethics and standards, facilitated by Alan Warburton, has been scheduled and will take place on Tuesday 27^th June 2006.  All Members would benefit from attending this refresher course but it may be of particular use to new Councillors and new members of the Standards Committee.      

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To advise the Committee of the programme for the forthcoming Parish Conference on Tuesday 13^th June 2006.  

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            11^th July 2006