Agenda item

LGA Consultation on a Model Code of Conduct (Report No: STC/WS/20/001)

Report No: STC/WS/20/001

Minutes:

The Monitoring Officer advised the Committee that in January 2019, the Committee for Standards in Public Life (CSPL) concluded a review into ethical standards in Local Government. 

 

As part of its review, the Committee made a wide-ranging set of recommendations.  This included a number of proposals in respect of the existing legislative framework, as well as a recommendation that the Local Government Association (LGA) should seek to recommend a model Code of Conduct across authorities, which, if adopted, would help ensure consistency for both Councillors and the public in terms of what was expected from elected representatives.

 

Accordingly, in June 2020 the LGA commenced consultation on a draft Code of Conduct; the Consultation invited interested parties to answer a series of questions in respect of the draft model Code.

 

The Chair advised the meeting that each question as posed by the LGA would be taken in turn, with the Committee being asked to agree a response on behalf of the Council. 

 

Once concluded, Members would then be asked to consider the separate written response the Council would also provide; a proposed draft of which was attached to the report as Appendix D. 

 

Considerable discussion took place on this item with Members considering each of the responses in detail.

 

The Monitoring Officer also informed the Committee that she had attended an LGA webinar on the topic during the previous week and she summarised the discussions that took place.

 

It was proposed by Councillor Margaret Marks, seconded by Councillor Max Clarke and with the vote being unanimous, it was RESOLVED that

 

Decision

 

1.   The Council’s response to the LGA draft Model Code of Conduct Questionnaire, as attached at Appendix C be agreed as follows:

 

Question

Response

1

To a great extent

2

No

3

Personal (I will)

4 and 5

Great Extent for all except point 5, confidential information, to which a comment should be made that there needs to be an exception for councillors seeking professional advice or for disclosures genuinely made in the public interest

6

As a long list then guidance

7 / 7a

To a great extent, but within the additional comments include that West Suffolk Council would like to see respect feature more prominently than just being “respect for a position”. The Committee recognised that the topics of respect and civility are very important, but could be problematic for the purposes of inclusion within the Code.

8

Great Extent

9 /9a

Great Extent but in the commentary note that the guidance on harassment should be expanded to reflect that harassment  is not just based on a protected characteristic

10 / 10a / 10b

No; social media should be integrated in the Code; and that in the commentary West Suffolk Council would expect to see greater mention of it

11 / 11a

Not at all.  The Committee are concerned that it is a potential invasion of privacy for friends / relatives who may not want their personal affairs to be disclosed simply as they are friends with / related to a Councillor.  The committee felt it is also not clear the extent to which such interests should be registered in standing declarations of interest versus being declared at meetings

12

Appendix

13 / 13a

Great Extent, but there needs to be clarity on “membership” of an organisations as whilst some organisations have formal membership procedures, others, such as Extinction Rebellion, are more nebulous; there may need to be a concept of a member “considers they are a member of” an organisations

14

Great Extent

15

Keep at £25

16a

West Suffolk Council of course always welcomes support and guidance for Councillors

17

See written statement

 

2.   The final wording and submission of the accompanying written statement (attached at Appendix) be delegated to the Monitoring Officer, in consultation with the Chair of the Standards Committee and Portfolio Holder for Governance;

 

3.   Any further comments from Members to be emailed directly to the Monitoring Officer as soon as possible; and

 

4.   A copy of the full submission (questionnaire and statement) be sent to all Committee Members by the Monitoring Officer for information.

Supporting documents: