To receive such announcements as the Chairman may wish to make to the Council.
Minutes:
The Chairman opened
her announcements by referring to a recent decision by the Conduct
Advisory Panel in response to a County Council Resolution:
At the County Council’s AGM last
year, the County Council received an exceptional All-Party Notice
of Motion proposing a number of anti-racism actions which were
unanimously agreed by the County Council. One of these
actions was to request the Conduct Advisory Panel to consider
amending the County Council’s Arrangements for dealing with
complaints against Members to include reference to the
Council’s ability to invite a Member to resign as part of an
action of censure determined by the Council in accordance with
those arrangements when a Member is found to have expressed racist
and or unlawfully discriminatory beliefs publicly.
The Conduct Advisory Panel met on 30 January to consider the County
Council’s request and the proposal that a Member may be
invited to resign in the circumstances specified in the
resolution. The Panel considered the lawful powers of the
County Council in relation to the sanctions that it might impose
where a Member has been found to have breached the Code of Conduct
and took into account the desirability of avoiding confusion
regarding these. The Conduct Advisory Panel also considered
the role of the Hearing Panel in determining whether a Member has
breached the Code of Conduct. The Conduct Advisory Panel
approved revised wording for the arrangements to give the Hearing
Panel, in the circumstances specified in the County Council’s
resolution, an opportunity to express a formal view that the Member
concerned ought to consider resigning from office. In this
way, the seriousness of the misconduct would be underscored for the
benefit of Members of the County Council when deciding whether to
resolve to censure the Member concerned as well as for the benefit
of Hampshire’s residents but the risk of confusion arising
concerning the lawful powers of the County Council would be
lower.
The Chairman was pleased to report on the first Hampshire Business
Awards held on 30 November 2023, celebrating the significant
achievements and successes of businesses across Hampshire and the
positive impact on the communities within which they
operate. The Awards attracted 262
nominations which demonstrated the strength, variety, and pride in
Hampshire businesses, and their importance in driving the future
economic success of Hampshire.
The Chairman also reported on several civic events attended:
· Act of Remembrance (11 November 2023)
· Apprenticeship Awards (22 November 2023)
· Visit to Staunton Farm & Country Park (29 November 2023)
· Staff Carol Concert (7 December 2023)
· Unveiling of Licoricia statue information board (14 December 2023)
· A Service of Welcome to the Right Reverend Philip Mounstephen as the 98th Bishop of Winchester (13 January 2024)
·
Launch of Winchester Studies: Prehistoric, Roman and
Post Roman Winchester
(7 February 2024)
·
HRH Princess Royal visiting Ordnance Survey (15
February)
It was with much sadness that the Chairman reported on the passing
of former County Councillor and Honorary Alderman Marilyn
Tucker. Marilyn represented
the Tadley and Baughurst electoral division
between 2005 and 2013. As an exceptional
arrangement, the Chairman invited Honorary Aldermen Keith Chapman
to speak. Councillor Derek Mellor also
paid tribute.
Also as an exceptional arrangement, the Chairman invited Honorary
Alderman Michael Woodhall to pay tribute to former County
Councillor and Honorary Alderman Alex Varden.
Members observed a one-minute
silence as a mark of respect.