Issue - meetings

Effectiveness of the Code of Conduct Update

Meeting: 21/01/2015 - Standards Committee (Item 6)

6 Review of the Effectiveness of the Code of Conduct for Members Update

To receive an update from the Monitoring Officer.

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Monitoring Officer presented a report updating the Committee on investigations into the effectiveness of the Code of Conduct Complaints Procedure, as instructed by the Committee at its meeting on 8 October 2014. The Committee was also asked to consider the current arrangements on Gifts and Hospitality, following referral from Council on 21 October 2014 of a motion to reinstate the requirement to register gifts and hospitality over £25.

 

A summary of all the Code of Conduct complaints received by the Council since the new Code came into effect in July 2012 was presented, with analysis of which complaints may have been referred for investigation under the previous Code. The Committee discussed whether there were any gaps in the Code which were limiting the Council in its duty to promote and maintain high standards of conduct, and how that duty could be strengthened if necessary.

 

In response to queries on the evidence relied upon, it was acknowledged much was subjective or anecdotal, as in the absence of a single statutory body receiving information on complaints, compiling data was a more difficult task.

 

The Committee noted that with the limited sanctions permitted under legislation, the most effective means of censure in the event of a breach of a code would be to publicise the decision, and discussed whether it was possible to do so more widely than at present. It was felt that reliance on internal political group sanctions in the event of a breach was ineffective, particularly in Towns and Parishes with no political groupings. The need for additional sanctions was reemphasised, but it was acknowledged that efforts to lobby for further change would be delayed until after the May 2015 General Election.

 

The benefits of Towns and Parishes having complaints procedures to ensure good governance which could resolve many concerns before they rose to the level of a Code of Conduct complaint was discussed, as well as the impact of the Behaviours Framework attached to the Wiltshire Council Code and need for guidance on social media use.

 

In relation the referred motion on Gifts and Hospitality, it was stated it would be a simple process to add an option under the Register of Interests to record gifts and hospitality received by Members, though guidance on what constituted a gift or hospitality, and the level of value that would be appropriate to be recorded without being unduly onerous, would need to be clarified.

 

It was also stated that Town and Parish Councils, many of which currently utilized Wiltshire Council’s Code of Conduct, would be informed of the intention to revise the Code.

 

Resolved:

 

That the Monitoring Officer,

 

1)    Draft proposals to strengthen the Code of Conduct

 

2)    Draft proposals for enabling the recording of gifts and hospitality at an appropriate level

 

3)    Continue efforts to work with other Authorities to lobby central government to increase the level of sanctions available to councils, as soon as appropriate.