To elect a Chairman/woman for the meeting.

Councillor Stocks was elected as Chairman for the meeting.

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Amil.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Standards Committee held on 30 January 2013.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Standards Committee held on 30 January 2013 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairwoman.

To note the report.

Members considered the Annual Report 2012-13 produced by the Committee on Standards in Public Life.  Members were informed that the Committee on Standards in Public Life had expressed concerns regarding the current standards regime.  Whilst the Government were not intending to change the current standards regime, the Committee on Standards in Public Life had however revised the Seven Principles of Public Life.

Members expressed concern with the current standards regime and whilst acknowledging that there were ways to highlight inappropriate behaviour, members felt the regime lacked the ability to punish inappropriate behaviour and therefore the threat of ‘standards’ was no longer a deterrent.

Resolved:

That the Monitoring Officer in consultation with Chairwoman write a letter to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and Torbay’s Members of Parliament expressing the Committee’s concerns regarding the standards regime.

To consider changes to the Member Code of Conduct following the recent revision of the seven principles of public life.

Members considered a report that proposed changes to the Member Code of Conduct following the recent revision of the seven principles of public life by the Committee on Standards in Public Life.

Resolved:

That the Council be recommended to replace the seven principles on public life that are presently contained within the Council’s Member Code of Conduct with the revised principles set out by the Committee on Standards in Public Life in their report, ‘Standards Matter: A Review of Best Practice in Promoting Good Behaviour in Public Life.

To note the report.

Members noted a report that provided figures such as the number of complaints that had been received for the period of 1 February 2013 to 31 October 2013.