An Apology for absence was received from Councillor Atiya-Alla.

There were no interests declared.

To respond as a Standards Committee, to the open consultation being undertaken by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on ‘Strengthening the Standards and Conduct Framework for Local Authorities in England’.

Members were advised that The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) was seeking views on introducing a mandatory minimum code of conduct for local authorities in England, and measures to strengthen the standards and conduct regime in England to ensure consistency of approach amongst councils investigating serious breaches of their member codes of conduct, including the introduction of the power of suspension.

The Members of the Standards Committee were asked to respond to the consultation and proceeded to provide an answer to each question in turn.

Resolved:

Subject to the Senior Democratic & Overview and Scrutiny Officer providing the answers to questions 13 and 13a, the responses to the consultation be submitted.

To establish a Standards Hearing Sub-Committee.

The Standards Committee were requested to establish the Standards Hearing Sub-Committee in order to consider and determine complaints and appropriate action in respect of allegations of breaches of the Members Code of Conduct referred by the Monitoring Officer.

Resolved:

That the Standards Hearing Sub-Committee be established with the Terms of the Reference and Membership requirements as set out in the submitted report.