Report of the Director of Law and Governance (Monitoring Officer)

The subject of the decision:

The Director of Law and Governance (Monitoring Officer) presented a report seeking approval to amendments to the Council’s Member Code of Conduct and Members’ Register of Interests Form.

Alternative options considered:

The Committee gave consideration to the proposed amendments contained within the Code of Conduct for the Members of Hambleton District Council.

The reason for the decision:

To take account of the findings of a review into the standards regime under the Localism Act 2011 by the Committee on Standards in Public Life (“CSPL”).  This review was carried out in order for the Committee to satisfy itself that the current standards framework was conducive to promoting and maintaining the standards expected of Members by the general public.

THE DECISION:

That the Committee approves and recommends to Council that:-

(1)     the amended Code of Member Conduct appended at ‘Annex A’ of the report be approved and adopted; and

(2)     the amended Register of Interests Form appended to ‘Annex B’ of the report be approved and adopted.

Report of the Director of Law and Governance (Monitoring Officer)

The subject of the decision:

The Director of Law and Governance (Monitoring Officer) submitted a report seeking approval to amendments to the Council’s Member Code of Conduct and Members’ Register of Interests Form.

Alternative options considered:

The Committee gave consideration to the proposed amendments contained within the Code of Conduct for the Members of Hambleton District Council and sought clarification regarding the examples of bullying contained within the document and their possible impact on legitimate debate.  The Committee requested that consideration of this matter be deferred for further clarification with the Director of Law and Governance (Monitoring Officer).

The reason for the decision:

To take account of the findings of a review into the standards regime under the Localism Act 2001 by the Committee on Standards in Public Life (“CSPL”).  This review was carried out in order for the Committee to satisfy itself that the current standards framework was conducive to promoting and maintaining the standards expected of Members by the general public.

THE DECISION:

That consideration of this matter be deferred until the next meeting of the Committee.