Agenda and minutes

To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Community Councillor M Morris.

To authorise the Chair to sign the minutes of the previous meetings of the Committee held on 12 February 2020, 26 February 2021 and 27 May 2021 as correct records.

The Chair was authorised to sign the minutes of the meetings held on 12 February 2020, 26 February 2021 and 27 May 2021 as correct records.

To receive any declarations of interest from Members relating to items to be considered on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest.

To receive the report of the Head of Legal and Democratic Services.

The Committee received the report of the Head of Legal and Democratic Services (copy filed with signed minutes).

A         Referral of Councillors to Public Services Ombudsman

A1.      Town and Community Councillor Referrals

The current position regarding matters with the Ombudsman is detailed below:

7/17/TCC       Ombudsman investigating

7/18/TCC       Complaint received – Ombudsman not investigating but now subject to review

8/18/TCC       Ombudsman deciding whether or not to investigate

10/18/TCC     Ombudsman deciding whether or not to investigate

11/18/TCC     Ombudsman deciding whether or not to investigate

13/18/TCC     Ombudsman investigating

15/18/TCC     Ombudsman deciding whether or not to investigate

16/18/TCC     Ombudsman deciding whether or not to investigate

02/19/TCC    Ombudsman deciding whether or not to investigate

11/19/TCC     Concluded no action

13/19/TCC    Standards Community Sub-Committee hearing held on 27 May 2021 – see minutes which are a separate item on the agenda

01/20/TCC    Ombudsman not investigating

02/20/TCC    Ombudsman not investigating

03/20/TCC    Ombudsman deciding whether or not to investigate

04/20/TCC     Ombudsman not investigating

05/20/TCC    Ombudsman not investigating 

06/20/TCC    Ombudsman deciding whether or not to investigate

07/20/TCC    Ombudsman not investigating

08/20/TCC    Ombudsman deciding whether or not to investigate

09/20/TCC    Ombudsman deciding whether or not to investigate

10/20/TCC     Ombudsman deciding whether or not to investigate

11/20/TCC     Ombudsman deciding whether or not to investigate

12/20/TCC     Ombudsman not investigating

01/21/TCC     Ombudsman not investigating

02/21/TCC     Ombudsman not investigating

03/21/TCC     Ombudsman deciding whether or not to investigate

04/21/TCC     Ombudsman deciding whether or not to investigate

05/21/TCC     Ombudsman deciding whether or not to investigate

06/21/TCC     Ombudsman deciding whether or not to investigate

The Deputy Monitoring Officer advised that the Ombudsman had reported that the number of complaints received had significantly increased since June 2020.  She advised that officers would review the records to establish whether any cases were duplicates and should be cross referenced/deleted as historical.

B.        Dispensations

B1.      Applications - Town and Community Councillors

No applications for dispensation had been received from Town or Community Councillors.

C.        Independent lay Member on Standards Committee

The Committee noted the reasons for the delay in appointing to the independent member vacancy.  

D.        Ombudsman’s Casebook

The Ombudsman had published Code of Conduct Casebook for the period October – December 2019 and January – December 2020.

E.        Meeting Dates

            The next meeting date was noted:

             Wednesday 13 October 2021