Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Ika Castka, Co-Optee (Independent) and Councillor Brian Oldham (Deputy Chair).

The minutes of the meeting held on 30 September 2019 were signed by the Chair as a true and accurate record.

There were none.

There were none.

The Standards Committee to receive a verbal update regarding the recruitment of an Independent Member Co Optee to the Standards Committee.

The Chair advised that the Standards Working Group, as the interview panel, had met recently and interviewed Candidate A. The Standards Working Group recommended to the Standards Committee that Candidate A is appointed as Co Optee (Independent) from 1 January 2020.  Applicant A, Robert Mehaffy had verbally accepted the appointment subject to the approval of the Standards Committee.

Resolved:  That:

(1)   Robert Mehaffy is offered the role of Independent Member Co-Optee to the Standards Committee from 1 January 2020.

The Standards Committee to review its updated Training Strategy for all Members of the Council in relation to ethical and governance matters and specific training for Members of the Standards Committee.

The Standards Committee received the Training Strategy 2019/2020 and the Chair invited comment.  The Committee was advised that there was a need for the Strategy to have a covering report page that detailed the date of adoption, the version, and by whom approved the document.

RESOLVED: Subject to the inclusion of a covering report page, the Training Strategy 2019/2020 was approved.

The Standards Committee to review its Communication Strategy.

The Standards Committee received the Communications Strategy 2019/2020 and the Chair invited comment.  The Committee was advised that there was a need for the Strategy to have a covering report page that detailed the date of adoption, the version, and by whom approved the document.

RESOLVED: Subject to the inclusion of a covering report page, the Communications Strategy 2019/2020 was approved.

The Committee to receive an update on the effectiveness of the whistleblowing arrangements in place at Northampton Borough Council.

The Standards Committee was referred to the report that detailed the effectiveness of the Council’s Whistleblowing arrangements. The salient points were highlighted. 

The Standards Committee asked questions, made comment and heard:

·         In response to a query whether benchmarking had been undertaken, it was confirmed that it had not been but this was an exercise that could be undertaken.

·         A Stress Working Group is being set up, and it will encompass the Whistleblowing Policy.

RESOLVED: That the information provided in relation to the effectiveness of the Council’s Whistleblowing Policy and Procedures is noted.

The Standards Committee to consider a report regarding complaints received under the Arrangements for dealing with allegations of breaches of the Council’s Code of Conduct and of Codes of Conduct adopted by Parish Councils.

The Standards Committee received a report detailing statistics in relation to Code of Conduct Arrangements complaints.

The Deputy Monitoring Officer apprised the Committee of each of the complaints listed.

One of the complaints referred to a reconvened meeting of a Standard Hearing and the potential date, February 2020, was provided to the Members.  

RESOLVED:   That:

(1)  The statistical data in relation to the number of complaints received and dealt with is noted.

(2)  Statistical data in relation to the number of complaints received and dealt with is presented to the Committee at each meeting.

There were none.