Issue - meetings

The Hearing Panel to determine whether the confidential report may be considered in public

The Hearing Panel was invited to determine whether the confidential report of the Monitoring Officer could be considered in public.  The Panel was advised that the Hearing should be held in public unless there was a good reason to exclude the public.

The Monitoring Officer submitted that it was in the public interest to hold the matter in public, transparency being a key part of the Nolan Principles. It was therefore important that in discharging its duties in respect of upholding the highest standards of conduct that the public should be entitled to view proceedings.

The Monitoring Officer did acknowledge there were third parties who might be identified through the process but felt that their identities could be protected without the matter being dealt with in private.

The Subject Member submitted that the matter should be heard in private to ensure that he was able to give an open account of what he believed were important factors in the case.

In light of the representations made, the Panel considered that it was important that parties should not feel they were unable to speak freely and therefore, in the circumstances, the public interest in maintaining the exemption should prevail and the matter should be heard in private.  

RESOLVED:  That the Hearing be carried out in private, pursuant to paragraphs 1 and 2 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972. 

The Hearing Panel to determine whether the confidential report may be considered in public

The Hearing Panel was invited to determine whether the confidential report of the Monitoring Officer could be considered in public.  The Panel was advised that the Hearing should be held in public unless there was a good reason to exclude the public.

RESOLVED:  That the Hearing be carried out in private, pursuant to paragraphs 1 and 2 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.