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Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, Town Hall, Katharine Street, Croydon CR0 1NX. View directions

Contact: Democratic Services  Email: Democratic.Services@croydon.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1/20

Disclosure of Interests

In accordance with the Council’s Code of Conduct and the statutory provisions of the Localism Act, Members and co-opted Members of the Council are reminded that it is a requirement to register disclosable pecuniary interests (DPIs) and gifts and hospitality to the value of which exceeds £50 or multiple gifts and/or instances of hospitality with a cumulative value of £50 or more when received from a single donor within a rolling twelve month period. In addition, Members and co-opted Members are reminded that unless their disclosable pecuniary interest is registered on the register of interests or is the subject of a pending notification to the Monitoring Officer, they are required to disclose those disclosable pecuniary interests at the meeting. This should be done by completing the Disclosure of Interest form and handing it to the Democratic Services representative at the start of the meeting. The Chair will then invite Members to make their disclosure orally at the commencement of Agenda item 3. Completed disclosure forms will be provided to the Monitoring Officer for inclusion on the Register of Members’ Interests.

Minutes:

There were none.

2/20

Urgent Business (if any)

To receive notice of any business not on the agenda which in the opinion of the Chair, by reason of special circumstances, be considered as a matter of urgency.

Minutes:

There were no items of urgent business.

3/20

Member Code of Conduct pdf icon PDF 238 KB

Ethics Committee is asked to agree guidance to accompany the newly adopted Members’ Code of Conduct which reflects national guidance produced by the Local Government Association.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Ethics Committee considered a report in which it was asked to agree guidance to accompany the newly adopted Members’ Code of Conduct which reflects national guidance produced by the Local Government Association. The Committee received an introduction from the Governance Improvement Adviser, Heather Wills.

 

In response to queries raised by the Committee, the following was clarified:

 

-        The Council Monitoring Officer advised if the Member Code of Conduct was included in the Council Constitution then it would carry more weight.

 

During the consideration of the recommendations, the Committee discussed the following:

 

-        Whether having the Code on the council’s website would be adequate.

 

An amendment was moved and seconded to amend point iii) to read “ we agree to recommend that the Guidance is available on the council’s website.” The amendment was put to the vote and carried.

 

RESOLVED – That the Committee agreed to note points i) and ii) and that point iii) is amended as above.

 

The Committee noted the request for small group of Members from the Committee to work with officers to review the Protocol on Staff-Councillor Relations.

 

RESOLVED – That the Committee agreed that Councillor Fraser will represent the administration and that a representative from the minority group will be nominated.

 

4/20

Access to Information Protocol pdf icon PDF 597 KB

For the Committee to consider the revised draft Protocol.

Minutes:

The Ethics Committee considered a report which detailed a revised draft Access to Information Protocol has been prepared, informed by comments from Ethics Committee, Scrutiny Chairs, recent reviews conducted at Croydon Council and advice from the Centre for Governance and Scrutiny. The Committee received an introduction from the Governance Improvement Adviser, Heather Wills.

 

In response to queries raised by the Committee, the following was clarified:

 

The officers were recommending that the 10 day deadline for a response to councillor requested would be the maximum and that in most cases the information would be supplied more quickly.

If a request for information was refused due to sensitivity or confidentiality, then members would be told of the reasons for that decision being made.

 

A vote to accept the recommendations was suggested. The vote was carried.

 

RESOLVED – That the Committee agreed to the recommendations set out in the report.

 

5/20

Dispensation Applications for Members pdf icon PDF 123 KB

To receive the report of the Executive Director of Resources & Monitoring Officer on Members' dispensations for consideration, if any are received.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Ethics Committee considered a report which detailed that following statutory amendments to the ethics regime, full Council adopted a new Code of Conduct in 2011 and delegated to the Monitoring Officer and the Ethics Committee the power to consider dispensations under the new ethics regime. The Committee received an introduction from the Monitoring Officer, John Jones confirming that there were no items to be brought to the Committee.

 

RESOLVED – That the Committee agreed to note the report.

 

 

6/20

Complaint Monitoring and Associated Matters pdf icon PDF 226 KB

For the Committee to receive an update regarding any complaints or investigations undertaken by the Monitoring Officer during the last quarter to 31 October 2021.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Ethics Committee considered a report which detailed that the Council has determined that the Ethics Committee shall be responsible for receiving and considering reports on matters of probity and ethics. This is the quarterly report to the Ethics Committee to update members on any complaints or investigations undertaken by the Monitoring Officer during the last quarter to 31 October 2021 subject to what is set out at paragraph 3.9 below. The previous report, an annual report up to and including complaints received and considered by 31 July 2021 is accessible here:

 

https://democracy.croydon.gov.uk/documents/s32625/Rpt_Quarterly%20Compl aints_%20Ethics%20Cttee_Sept_%202021final.pdf

 

The Committee received an introduction from the Monitoring Officer, John Jones confirming that there were no items to be brought to the Committee.

 

In response to queries raised by the Committee, the following was clarified:

 

That the Council is not able to control the type of complaints that are received from members of the public.

 

RESOLVED – That the Committee agreed to note the report.

 

7/20

Work Programme pdf icon PDF 119 KB

To consider the Committee work programme for the remainder of the Municipal Year.

Minutes:

The Ethics Committee considered a report which detailed the Ethics Committee Work Programme for 2021/22. This Work Programme will be considered at every meeting of the Committee to enable it to respond to issues of concern and incorporate any additional items. The Committee received an introduction from the Monitoring Officer, John Jones

 

In response to queries raised by the Committee, the following was clarified:

 

That the Register of Gifts and Hospitality should include anything that could be seen as being given as for a particular reason to protect from any possible issues in the future.

The amount is £50 but that this is a cumulative figure.

 

 

RESOLVED – That the Committee agreed to note the report.

 

8/20

Exclusion of the Press and Public

The following motion is to be moved and seconded where it is proposed to exclude the press and public from the remainder of a meeting:

 

“That, under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act, 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information falling within those paragraphs indicated in Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended.”

Minutes:

This was not required.

9/20

Dispensation Applications for Members

To receive the report of the Executive Director of Resources & Monitoring Officer on Members' dispensations for consideration, if any are received.