Agenda and minutes

There were no Apologies for absence received.

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 the Membership of the Committee.

If a Member requires advice on Declarations of Interest, he/she is advised to contact the Legal and Democratic Services Manager 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 was no urgent items of 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 5.00pm on Friday 10 March 2023.  A copy of the public speaking protocol and form to be completed is attached.

There was no public speaking.

To receive as a correct record the minutes of the last meeting of the Committee held on Tuesday 20 September 2022.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held on 20 September 2022, be approved as a correct record.

To consider the report of the Legal and Democratic Services Manager.

The Legal and Democratic Services Manager presented the Complaints Statistics as contained on pages 45-46 of the Book of Reports, which provided Members with statistical information in relation to standards complaints for the period 20 September 2022 to 6 March 2023.

Two formal complaints relating to Parish Council were received. The Monitoring Officer responded to both complainants advising that the Members Code of Conduct had not been breached.

RESOLVED: That the Standards Complaint Statistics be noted.

To consider the draft report for Council on 5 April 2023 of Simon Goacher (Independent Legal Adviser) on behalf of the Chief Operating Officer.

Members were presented with the draft report of Simon Goacher (Independent Legal Adviser) on behalf of the Chief Operating Officer, regarding the Change of Governance Arrangements Draft Terms of Reference, which will be submitted to Council on 5 April 2023.

The Legal and Democratic Services Manager explained the project which has been implemented to carry out the changes and structures required to facilitate the Change in Governance arrangements, from a Leader/Cabinet System to a Committee System, which the Council have agreed to commence May 2024.

The impact that the change of Governance arrangements was likely to have on Standards Committee was not known at present, but the information presented to Standards Committee was to make Members aware of the future Governance Terms of Reference, ahead of being submitted to Council, and updates would be provided in future.

Members were advised that a Training Session will be provided for All Members of the Council to attend, where Ed Hammond from the Centre for Governance and Scrutiny (CfGS), will be explaining what it feels like to work under a Committee System.

It was noted the positive support other Authorities have provided during the project to date.

RESOLVED: That the Change of Governance Arrangements Draft Terms Of

Reference be noted.

The Legal and Democratic Services Manager presented Members with the work plan for the committee, and explained that each Committee will have a work plan moving forward. The intention being that there would be a twelve-month lead in time for large projects, to make Officers and Members aware of the work commitments and considerations required throughout the year. This was in response to the Peer Review feedback.

RESOLVED: That the work programme be noted.