Issue - meetings

The Deputy Monitoring Officer introduced the report and explained that as a member of Wiltshire Council Councillor Cuthbert-Murray sits on the Westbury Area Board.  His request for dispensation relates to any grant applications made by Westbury Town Council which are to be considered by the Westbury Area Board.   She added that in further correspondence received from Councillor Cuthbert-Murray he had requested that the dispensation also covered community asset transfers from Wiltshire Council to Westbury Town Council.

The Deputy Monitoring Officer explained the law and guidance relevant to this request and advised that, in her view, a personal and prejudicial interest would arise as those matters affect the financial position Westbury Town Council, of which Councillor Cuthbert-Murray is a member. She also stated that the legal criteria had been met as three out of the four members (more than 50%) of the Area Board were dual hatted members (members of Westbury Town Council as well as Wiltshire Council) and would be prohibited from voting at a meeting as a result of their prejudicial interest under the Code of Conduct.

She reminded the Sub-Committee that, in reaching a decision, they must have regard to guidance from Standards for England.

Resolved

That it is in the public interest to grant a dispensation to run until the next election in May 2013, subject to there being no material change in the circumstances under which this dispensation is granted.

The dispensation is to enable Councillor Cuthbert-Murray to speak and vote at meetings of Westbury Area Board on matters pertaining to grant applications by Westbury Town Council and community asset transfers from Wiltshire Council to the Town Council.