Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Mr S Ibbs (Independent Person).

To be apprised of any changes to the membership of the Committee in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 4.  This rule should only apply to the Standards Committee in exceptional circumstances and if the nominated substitute has been appropriately trained.

There were no changes to membership of the Committee.

If a Member requires advice on Declarations of Interest, he/she is advised to contact the Borough Solicitor in advance of the meeting.   (For the assistance of members a checklist for the use in considering their position on any particular item is included at the end of this agenda sheet).

There were no declarations of interest.

Note: No other business is permitted unless, by reason of special circumstances, which shall be specified at the meeting, the Chairman is of the opinion that the item(s) should be considered as a matter of urgency.

There were no items of urgent business.

Residents of West Lancashire, on giving notice, may address the meeting to make representations on any item on the agenda except where the public and press are to be excluded during consideration of the item.  The deadline for submission is 10.00am on Friday 14 September 2018.    A copy of the public speaking protocol and form to be completed is attached.

There were no items under this heading.

To receive as a correct record the minutes of the last meeting of the Committee held on 20 March 2018.

RESOLVED              That the minutes of the last meeting of the Committee held on 20 March 2018 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To consider the report of the Borough Solicitor

The Committee considered the complaints statistics for 2017/18 as set down at pages 11 to 16 of the Book of Reports.

The Borough Solicitor advised that a complaint received against a Parish Council had been recorded as one incident and proposed that the statistics be updated to reflect the usual practice of recording each individual complaint.

RESOLVED              That subject to the amendment referred to above, the Standards Complaints Statistics, attached at Appendix 1 to the report be noted.

To consider the report of the Borough Solicitor

The Borough Solicitor presented the Standards Committee Annual Report as circulated and contained on pages 17 – 26 of the Book of Reports.

RESOLVED              That the Standards Committee Annual Report 2017/18, attached as an Appendix to the report be noted, endorsed and published on the Council’s website.

To consider the report of the Borough Solicitor

Consideration was given to the report of the Borough Solicitor as circulated and contained on pages 27 – 32 of the Book of Reports which detailed training undertaken in 2017/18 and its effectiveness in relation to the Code of Conduct and standards.

RESOLVED              That the training undertaken and the evaluation of it be noted.

Consideration was given to the Work Programme as circulated and contained on page 33 of the Book of Reports.

During the ensuing discussion reference was made to Chairmanship skills training and the Borough Solicitor proposed that this be a matter for consideration by the Member Development Commission.

RESOLVED  (A)       That the Work Programme be noted.

(B)       That the Member Development Commission be requested to review Chairmanship skills training.

·         Councillor Wright arrived at the meeting during consideration of the above item.