Agenda and draft minutes

To elect a Chairman for the meeting

Councillor Kemp-Gee was appointed Chairman for the meeting.

To receive any apologies for absence.

All Members were present and no apologies were noted.

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 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 Personal Interest in a matter being considered at the meeting should consider, 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, 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 at the time of the relevant debate 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 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 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 whilst the matter was discussed, save for exercising any right to speak in accordance with the Code.

Councillor Drew declared a personal interest that he knew both Members whose conduct was under consideration at this meeting, however did not consider this a close enough association to affect his judgement in either case.

To confirm the minutes of the previous meeting.

The Minutes of the last meeting of the Conduct Advisory Panel Assessment Panel were confirmed and signed by the Chairman.

RECOMMENDATION:

That the press and public be excluded from the meeting as it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the public were present, there would be  disclosure to them of exempt information within Paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, being information relating to any individual which should not be disclosed for the reasons set out in the report.

RESOLVED:

That the press and public be excluded from the meeting as it was likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the public were present, there would be disclosure to them of exempt information within Paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, being information relating to any individual which should not be disclosed for the reasons set out in the report.

To confirm the exempt minutes of the meeting held on 9 January 2020.

The Exempt Minutes of the last meeting of the Conduct Advisory Panel Assessment Panel were confirmed and signed by the Chairman.

To consider an exempt report of the Monitoring Officer.

The Assessment Panel considered the report of the Monitoring Officer regarding a potential breach of the Code of Conduct. Taking into account the content of the report and the views of the Independent Person, and noting the options available to the Panel, it was

RESOLVED:

That the complaint against a Member of the County Council as set out in the report, be referred to the Monitoring Officer for other action as follows:

·         The Monitoring Officer shall arrange to meet with the Councillor concerned to discuss aspects relevant to the complaint.

·         That such meeting take place by 1 March 2024.

In the event that the Member does not co-operate with the referral by the Panel for ‘other action’ that the Panel be reconvened to consider other options.

[Summary of an exempt minute]

To consider an exempt report of the Monitoring Officer.

The Assessment Panel considered the report of the Monitoring Officer regarding a potential breach of the Code of Conduct. Taking into account the content of the report and the views of the Independent Person, and noting the options available to the Panel, it was

RESOLVED:

That the complaint against a Member of the County Council as set out in the report, be referred to the Monitoring Officer for other action as follows:

·         The Monitoring Officer shall arrange to meet with the Councillor concerned to discuss aspects relevant to the complaint.

·         That such meeting take place by 1 March 2024.

In the event that the Member does not co-operate with the referral by the Panel for ‘other action’ that the Panel be reconvened to consider other options.

[Summary of an exempt minute]

To consider an exempt report of the Monitoring Officer.

The Assessment Panel considered the report of the Monitoring Officer regarding a potential breach of the Code of Conduct. Taking into account the content of the report and the views of the Independent Person, and noting the options available to the Panel, it was

RESOLVED:

That the complaint against a Member of the County Council as set out in the report, be referred to the Monitoring Officer for other action as follows:

·         The Monitoring Officer shall arrange to meet the Councillor concerned to discuss aspects relevant to the complaint.

·         That such meeting take place by 1 March 2024.

In the event that the Member does not co-operate with the referral by the Panel for ‘other action’ that the Panel be reconvened to consider other options.

[Summary of an exempt minute]