Agenda and minutes

To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Peter Chegwyn, Tom Thacker and Michael Thierry.

All Members who believe they have a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in any matter to be considered at the meeting must declare that interest and, having regard to the circumstances described in Part 3 Paragraph 1.5 of the County Council's Members' Code of Conduct, leave the meeting while the matter is discussed, save for exercising any right to speak in accordance with Paragraph 1.6 of the Code. Furthermore all Members with a Non-Pecuniary interest in a matter being considered at the meeting should consider whether such interest should be declared, and having regard to Part 5, Paragraph 2 of the Code, consider whether it is appropriate to leave the meeting while the matter is discussed, save for exercising any right to speak in accordance with the Code.

Members were mindful that where they believed they had a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in any matter considered at the meeting they must declare that interest and, having regard to Part 3, Paragraph 1.5 of the County Council's Members' Code of Conduct, leave the meeting while the matter was discussed, save for exercising any right to speak in accordance with Paragraph 1.6 of the Code. Furthermore Members were mindful that where they believed they had a Personal Interest in a matter being considered at the meeting they considered, having regard to Part 5, Paragraph 4 of the Code, whether such interest should be declared, and having regard to Part 5, Paragraph 5 of the Code, considered whether it was appropriate to leave the meeting while the matter was discussed, save for exercising any right to speak in accordance with the Code.

To confirm the Minutes of the previous meeting held on 22 June 2016.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 22 June 2016 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive any deputations notified under Standing Order 12.

There were no deputations on this occasion.

To receive any announcements the Chairman may wish to make.

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting and for the benefit of new Members present, introductions were made.  For the benefit of new Members on the Committee, the Chairman provided a summary of the remit of the Panel.

To consider a report of the Director of Transformation & Governance seeking renewal of a number of dispensations granted by the Conduct Advisory Panel under Section 33 of the Localism Act 2011.

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Transformation and Governance (Item 6) seeking renewal of several dispensations previously granted by the Panel under Section 33 of the Localism Act 2011, as set out in Section 3 of the report together with a new dispensation request, as set out in paragraph 4.3 of the report. 

In presenting the report and for the benefit of new Members of the Panel, the Head of Law and Governance expanded on the dispensations sought.  Members noted that the dispensations set out in section 3 of the report had been renewed at the Panel’s last meeting on 22 June 2016 to expire on 31 July 2017.  It was therefore timely at the start of the new Council’s new Administration following its Elections in May to review the dispensations.

The Head of Law and Governance also reported that a new dispensation was sought following a query that had been raised about the status of moorings on the River Hamble and whether or not a mooring holder constitutes a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest.  As a result of advice received from the County Council’s lead land solicitor, it was considered appropriate to grant a general dispensation in this regard to allow Members serving on the River Hamble Harbour Board and the River Hamble Harbour Management Committee who are mooring holders to participate and vote in County Council business relating to the River Hamble.

RESOLVED:

That the Conduct Advisory Panel grant the following dispensations:

a)      A dispensation under Sections 33(2)(a) and (d) of the Localism Act expiring on 31 July 2021 to all Members of the County Council from the provisions of Sections 31(4)(a) and (b) of the Localism Act enabling all Members of the County Council to participate and vote in any business of the County Council relating to the setting of the Council Tax or Precepts, when they would otherwise be prevented from doing so in consequence of a beneficial interest in land within the administrative area of Hampshire.

b)      A dispensation under Sections 32(2)(a) and (d) of the Localism Act expiring on 31 July 2021 to all Members and Co-opted Members of the County Council in receipt of an allowance under the Hampshire County Council Members’ Allowances Scheme or Members’ Allowances Scheme of another relevant Authority from the provisions of Sections 31(4)(a) and (b) of the Localism Act enabling all Members and Co-opted Members of the County Council to participate and vote in any business of the County Council where they may otherwise be prevented from doing so in consequence of being in receipt of a Members’ Allowance.

c)      A dispensation under Section 33(2)(e) of the Localism Act expiring on 31 July 2021 to all Officer Members of the Health and Wellbeing Board for Hampshire from the provisions of Sections 31(4)(a) and (b) of the Localism Act enabling them to fully participate and vote in any business of the Health and Wellbeing Board for Hampshire when they would otherwise be prevented from doing so by virtue  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.