To elect a Chairman/woman of the Committee for the 2011/2012 Municipal Year.

Mr Heath was elected as Chairman for the meeting.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Stocks, Independent Members Messers Dalzell and Hutchinson and Brixham Town Councillors Henderson and Lomas.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Standards Committee held on 12 January 2011.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Standards Committee held on 12 January 2012 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

The Monitoring Officer informed Members that a new Code of Conduct was due to be considered by the Council on 12 July 2012.  At present current Independent Members cannot be involved in the new regime, however it was hoped the regulations would provide a transitional period.

To note the Terms of Reference for the Standards Committee and appoint the Standards Sub-Committees.

Members received and noted the terms of reference for the Standards Committee, as detailed in the report.

Resolved:

i)          that a Referrals Sub-Committee be established with the membership and Terms of Reference set out in the report;

ii)         that a Review Sub-Committee be established with the membership and Terms of Reference set out in the report;

iii)        that a Hearings Sub-Committee be established with the membership and Terms of Reference set out in the report; and

iv)        that a Standards Appointments Sub-Committee be established with the membership and Terms of Reference set out in the report.