MEMORANDUM

To: Members of the Standards Committee / From: LEGAL, MEMBER AND STATUTORY SERVICES
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HERTFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

STANDARDS COMMITTEE

16 JANUARY 2013

MINUTES

ATTENDANCE

MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE

R H Beeching, D J Hewitt (Chairman), F R G Hill, S Quilty, D T F Scudder (subsitute for S B A F H Giles-Medhurst)

Also present; T R Morris, Independent Person

Upon consideration of the agenda for the Committee meeting on 16 January 2013 as circulated, copy annexed, decisions were reached and are recorded below:

1.MINUTES

The minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 9 October 2012 were confirmed as a correct record subject to the correction of the spelling of the word ‘Committee’ in Minute 1.

2.GUIDANCE ON INTERESTS

The Committee considered the report of the Chief Legal Officer on draft guidance notes to help Members to identify and give the required notification of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests (DPIs). There was a discussion about lack of clarity concerning items which should be included in certain of the DPI categories.

Guidance issued by the Government in August 2012 was also attached to the report.

3.COMPLAINTS UPDATE

The Committee noted thatone complaint had been received under the new Code of Conduct for Members. Following consultation with the Council’s Independent Person, the Chief Legal Officer had informed the complainant that the complaint did not amount to a breach of the Council’s Code of Conduct. The complainant has 28 days to appeal the Chief Legal Officer’s decision and that period expires on 17 January 2013.

4.COMPLETION OF DISCLOSABLE PECUNIARY INTEREST FORMS

The Committee noted that 63 forms had been received. The Chief Legal Officer would advise Group Leaders of those members who had yet to return a completed form.

5.GENERAL DISPENSATIONS UPDATE

The Committee noted that following the decision of the Committee on 9 October 2012, the Chief Legal Officer had written to all members inviting them to apply for dispensations using a template letter. Following this, letters requesting dispensations had been received from 70 members. The Chief Legal Officer would issue a dispensation to those members who have requested a dispensation, as authorised by the Committee. Reminders had been sent to the remaining members and would be followed up.

Also, in preparation for the meeting of the Council on 26 February 2013 and the debate on the Integrated Plan (budget) Members of the Council would be invited to declare interests in advance, as happened in 2012, to avoid the need to make oral declarations at the meeting.

Kathryn Pettitt

Chief Legal Officer

130116 Standards Cttee Mins1