Agenda item

To consider the recommendations of the Working Group regarding the council’s Code of Conduct for Councillors. 

Councillors Ridout and Dean joined the meeting.

The Committee considered the report and recommendations of the LGA Model Code of Conduct Working Group, which had met twice in March 2022 to carry out a review.

The Chairman of the working group, Councillor Ruth Hopkinson, presented the findings.

The Working Group had considered and compared the current Wiltshire Council (WC) and LGA Model codes of conduct and accompanying guidance. The LGA Model code was developed as a template for local councils to adopt in whole and/or with local amendments and would be reviewed annually to ensure it remained fit-for-purpose, in terms of development in technology, social media and changes in legislation.

The Working Group recommended the adoption of an amended LGA Model Code, as set out at Appendix A to the report.

The Committee noted the differences that the proposed Model Code of Conduct (CoC) had compared to the original LGA Model Code, in that it was more succinct, with much of the explanatory detailed contained within the Code’s accompanying guidance. It also retained sections of guidance and two requirements that were included in the current WC Code but not in the LGA Model Code, relating to not placing oneself under financial or other obligation to other parties, and decision-making.

The Committee discussed the proposed CoC and clarified that parish councils were not required to adopt the version adopted by WC, but were free to chose which model they adopted, which included creating their own.

There was support for the council to include parishes in the development of the new CoC, in hope that involvement in the process would encourage more to adopt the same version which was felt could aid more consistency in behaviour of members at all levels.

Clarity was given on which code the Monitoring Officer assessed complaints on if a member served on several councils. It was confirmed that complaints were assessed on the relevant councils adopted code.

The Co-opted members added that in their capacity as parish councillors, there was an appetite for guidance on the code of conduct and an offer of guidance and training would be welcomed.

A member raised concerns regarding some aspects of the proposed code, specifically relating to respect, impartiality and disrepute and how these would be interpreted. Other members noted guidance attached with the proposed code provided clarification on how the code should be interpreted.  

A question was raised on whether former complaints had been reviewed to consider whether under the proposed code, the outcomes might have been different, but it was stated that such an exercise had not taken place.

The reason for and clarity on the types of possible recommendations which may be included as part of a resolution when the outcome is not to send for investigation were given.

Following discussion, the Chairman proposed that the Code of Conduct as set out in Appendix A required wider consultation before the Committee made its final consideration. 

The motion of the Chairman, which was seconded by Cllr Matthew Dean, was;

Resolved:

That the Standards Committee supported the Code of Conduct provided at Appendix A and agreed it be presented to the Constitution Working Group and Group Leaders and for their comments to be fed back to the Standards Committee at its next meeting.