Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Graham Calvin, Sean Cullen and Doug Wilson.

All Councillors declared a non-pecuniary interest in Agenda Item’s 6 and 7 due to knowing the subject Member.

RESOLVED:- that the minutes of the meeting held on 5 November 2019 be signed by the Chair as a correct record.

Committee considered a report requesting that the Monitoring Officer be authorised to grant a dispensation to members to enable them to participate in the budget process.

RESOLVED: that

a)     the monitoring officer be authorised to grant a  dispensation to all members and the elected mayor upon request to enable them to participate in the setting of an allowance, payment or indemnity to members and the elected mayor on the ground set out in section 33(2)(a) of the Localism Act 2011; 

b)     the monitoring officer be authorised to grant a dispensation to all

members and the elected mayor upon request to enable them to participate in the setting of the council tax or a precept, the local

           council tax reduction scheme and the business rates reduction

scheme provided that she is satisfied that the grounds set out in

section 33(2) of the Localism Act 2011 apply once she knows the

number of members affected; and

     (c)  that the form of dispensation be in the form attached at Appendix

           1 of the agenda report.

The Chair to move:

That under Section 100 (a) (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item on the grounds that, if they were present, there could be disclosed to them exempt information as defined in the relevant paragraphs of Schedule 12A of the Act.

RESOLVED – that the press and public be excluded for the remaining items of business in view of the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

Prior to the commencement of the consideration of this complaint Members were introduced to the complainant and named Member. Mr Henry Holmes confirmed that he was an independent member who was attending to observe, challenge and advise.

The Chair advised the Complainant and named Member that the meeting was in private and recording was strictly prohibited. The named Member, Complainant, Members of the Committee, Independent Person and officers all confirmed that they were not recording the proceedings.

Consideration was then given to an allegation that the named Member had intentionally mislead members of the public by completing their declaration on interest incorrectly. 

The committee received representations from the Council’s Solicitor and the Chair invited comments from the Complainant and subject Member.

The Subject Member was given the last word in summing up.

The Complainant, subject Member and Supporter left the room whilst the committee deliberated and considered their decision.

At the conclusion of the deliberation it was

RESOLVED – that the committee unanimously agreed that there was not a breach of the Code of Conduct. 

Prior to the commencement of the consideration of this complaint Members were introduced to the complainant, named Members and their supporters. Mr Henry Holmes confirmed that he was an independent member who was attending to observe, challenge and advise.

The Chair advised the Complainant and named Members that the meeting was in private and recording was strictly prohibited. The Complainant, named Members, Members of the Committee, Independent Person and officers all confirmed that they were not recording the proceedings.

Consideration was then given to allegations that one named member failed to disclose a pecuniary interest and had also produced documentation ‘improperly’ the allegation stated the other member allowed this to happen.

The committee received representations from the Council’s Solicitor and the Chair invited

comments from the Complainant and subject Members.

The Subject Members responded to the allegations, after which Members were invited to ask questions of both parties.

The Subject Members were given the last word in summing up.

The Complainant and subject Members left the room whilst the committee deliberated and

considered their decision.

RESOLVED – that the committee unanimously agreed that there was not a breach of the Code of Conduct by any member.