Agenda and minutes

Members in any doubt about such declarations are advised to contact Legal or Democratic Services in advance of the meeting

There were no declarations of interest made in accordance with the Code of Conduct.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Joint Standards Committee held on 12 October 2020

RESOLVED:  That the Minutes of the meeting of the Joint Standards Committee held on 12 October 2020 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

This report updates Members on complaints made to the Monitoring Officer that a Member may have failed to comply with his/her authority’s Code of Conduct.

The report provided an update on complaints made to the Monitoring Officer in in the current year.  He reminded the Committee that, as previously agreed, personal details of the Complainants or Subject Members were not published unless a complaint led to investigation and public hearing before the Hearing Panel.  Details of the complaint considered at the Standards Hearing Panel held on 29 April 2021 regarding the conduct of a member of Kings Hill Parish Council were set out in the report.  Details of other complaints received during 2021 were set out at Annex 1 to the report.

RESOLVED:  That the report be received and noted.

This report updates Members on progress in implementing the recommendations set out in the report of the Committee on Standards in Public Life following its review of local government standards.  The report also updates Members of the Joint Committee on the LGA Model Code of Conduct.

The report of the Monitoring Officer updated Members on progress in implementing the recommendations set out in the report of the Committee on Standards in Public Life (CSPL) following its review of local government standards.  Attention was drawn to the key aspects of the 2021 ‘follow up’ review of the CSPL and the responses submitted by local authorities. 

The Monitoring Officer drew attention to the LGA Model Code of Conduct attached at Annex 2 and advised that, following to detailed consideration by Kent Secretaries, a revised version of the Kent Model Code would be submitted to the Borough Council’s General Purposes Committee.

RESOLVED:  That the report be received and noted.

The Chairman to move that the press and public be excluded from the remainder of the meeting during consideration of any items the publication of which would disclose exempt information.

There were no items considered in private.