Agenda and minutes

Members are requested to declare the existence and nature of any disclosable pecuniary interest and/or other interest in any item on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest.

The Committee is asked to confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 2 March 2022.

The minutes of the meeting held on 2 March 2022 were confirmed and signed as a correct record.

The Local Government Act 1972 states that when a Councillor fails to attend any meeting for six consecutive months from the date of their last attendance, then, subject to certain exceptions, they cease to be a member of the authority, unless the Council accepts a reason for the failure to attend before the six months expires. For personal health related reasons, Councillor Eileen Atherton is currently unable to attend Council meetings. In the circumstances, it is put before members to consider a dispensation under Section 85(1) of the Local Government Act 1972, for the period of six months from 13 April 2022 before which forfeiture applies.

Council is asked to CONSIDER a dispensation for Councillor Eileen Atherton for a period of six months from the date of this meeting and RESOLVE accordingly.

This item was withdrawn from the agenda.

The purpose of the report at appendix 1 that was presented to the Governance, Audit and Standards Committee is to present Members with a revised Members’ Code of Conduct and arrangements for dealing with Code of Conduct complaints.

The revised Code is based on the new model Code (with local amendments) recently produced by the Local Government Association (LGA) following the recommendations made by the Committee on Standards in Public Life (CSPL).

The Member and Officer working task group have revised the Code of Conduct for Members and the arrangement for dealing with complaints to ensure they are fit for purpose, provide clarity on expected behaviours and process, to promote high standards of conduct and trust and set out what the public can expect from their representatives.

Members were updated with the revised Code of Conduct and arrangements for dealing with Member complaints based on the new model Code (with local amendments) recently produced by the Local Government Association following the recommendations made by the Committee on Standards in Public Life.

The Member and Officer working task group had revised the Code of Conduct for Members and the arrangement for dealing with complaints to ensure they were fit for purpose, provided clarity on expected behaviours and process and to promote high standards of conduct.

RESOLVED that the amended Code of Conduct at appendix 2 and arrangements at appendix 3, be APPROVED for implementation from 11 May 2022

To update Members with the draft Programme of Meetings for May 2022 to April 2023 for Cabinet, Council and Committees and seek resolutions on issues in relation to the changes to governance arrangements.

Further information is circulated separately to the agenda in relation to this item.

Members were updated with the draft programme of meetings for May 2022 to April 2023 for Cabinet, Council and Committees and seek resolutions on issues in relation to the changes to governance arrangements.

A number of cross-party task and finish group meetings had taken place to consider details of the governance. It was stated that the Authority must be consistent with other authorities in Nottinghamshire for governance models, the constitution was a living document that would need to be amended as necessary and there needs to be democratic accountability at all levels of government.

RESOLVED that:

1.            The Council adopt a Leader and Cabinet style of governance with implementation at the annual Council meeting in May 2022.

2.            The structure for the new governance arrangements as included in the report be approved.

3.            The programme of Meetings for the Council’s Committees for May 2022 to April 2023, be approved.