Agenda and minutes

Resolved

That Dr Sadie Reynolds be elected Chairman of the committee for the 2010/11 Council year. (Dr Reynolds took the Chair)

Resolved

That Mr Jim McBeth be appointed Vice-Chairman for the Council year 2010/11.

Members are asked to declare any interest and the nature of that interest which they may have in any of the items under consideration at this meeting. 

There were no declarations of interest.

The Chairman to report on any requests to submit petitions or to address the meeting.

There were no petitions or requests to address the meeting.

The Chairman to advise whether they have agreed to any item of urgent business being admitted to the agenda.

There was no urgent business.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 18 March 2010.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 18 March were agreed subject to the inclusion of the following additional minute:

“60.     Senior Democratic and Scrutiny Officer

The Chairman advised the Committee that this was Alexa Coates last meeting. The Committee thanked her for her support to the Committee and wished her well in her new post.”

To note the Minutes of the Assessment Sub-Committee held on 8 June 2010.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Standards Assessment Sub-Committee held on 8 June 2010 were noted.

To note the Minutes of the Assessment Sub-Committee held on 22 June 2010.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Standards Assessment Sub-Committee held on 22 June 2010 were noted.

Report of Head of Legal and Democratic Services / Monitoring Officer

Summary

To consider a request from the seven members of Barford St John and St Michael Parish Council for dispensations to enable them to participate in meetings of the Parish Council when matters relating to Barford St Michael Village Hall are considered, despite having personal and prejudicial interests.

Recommendations

The Standards Committee is recommended to:

(1)               Approve that dispensations, limited to a period expiring on the date of the next Parish Council elections for Barford St John and St Michael in May 2014, be granted to the present Barford St John and St Michael Parish Councillors (namely Rodney Silvester, Tracey Bullard, Sandi Turner, Robin George Woolgrove, Peter Leslie Eden, Sarah Louise Best and Lisa Jane Styles) to enable them to participate in meetings of the Parish Council when matters relating to Barford St Michael Village Hall are considered.

(2)               Approve that the dispensation mentioned in (1) above also be given to any new Parish Councillors joining the Parish Council in the meantime, subject to the Parish Clerk providing the relevant details to the Monitoring Officer.

The Head of Legal and Democratic Services/Monitoring Officer submitted a report which sought consideration of a request from the seven members of Barford St John and St Michael Parish Council for dispensations to enable them to participate in meetings of the Parish Council when matters relating to Barford St Michael Village Hall are considered, despite having personal and prejudicial interests.

Resolved

(1)               That dispensations, limited to a period expiring on the date of the next Parish Council elections for Barford St John and St Michael in May 2014, be granted to the present Barford St John and St Michael Parish Councillors (namely Rodney Silvester, Tracey Bullard, Sandi Turner, Robin George Woolgrove, Peter Leslie Eden, Sarah Louise Best and Lisa Jane Styles) to enable them to participate in meetings of the Parish Council when matters relating to Barford St Michael Village Hall are considered be approved.

(2)               That the dispensation mentioned in (1) above also be given to any new Parish Councillors joining the Parish Council in the meantime, subject to the Parish Clerk providing the relevant details to the Monitoring Officer be approved.

Report of Head of Legal and Democratic Services / Monitoring Services

Summary

To consider a request from members of Wroxton Parish Council for dispensations to enable them to participate in meetings of the Parish Council when all matters relating to the proposed Sports Pavilion and Community Hall in Wroxton and the proposed Village Hall in Balscote, are considered despite having a personal and prejudicial interest.

Recommendations

The Standards Committee is recommended to:

(1)               Approve that dispensations, limited to a period expiring on the date of the next Parish Council elections for Wroxton in May 2014, be granted to the present Wroxton Parish Councillors (namely Barry Allen, David Edicott, Robert Jesson, David McNaught, Michael Roberts, Carl Nicholson and Michael Whelan) to enable them to participate in meetings of the Parish Council when matters relating to the proposed Sports Pavilion and Community Hall in Wroxton and the proposed Village Hall in Balscote are considered.

(2)               Approve that the dispensation mentioned in (1) above also be given to any new Parish Councillors joining the Parish Council in the meantime, subject to the Parish Clerk providing the relevant details to the Monitoring Officer.

The Head of Legal and Democratic Services/Monitoring Officer submitted a report which sought consideration of a request from members of Wroxton Parish Council for dispensations to enable them to participate in meetings of the Parish Council when all matters relating to the proposed Sports Pavilion and Community Hall in Wroxton and the proposed Village Hall in Balscote, are considered despite having a personal and prejudicial interest.

Resolved

(1)               That dispensations, limited to a period expiring on the date of the next Parish Council elections for Wroxton in May 2014, be granted to the present Wroxton Parish Councillors (namely Barry Allen, David Endicott, Robert Jesson, David McNaught, Michael Robarts, Carl Nicholson and Michael Whelan) to enable them to participate in meetings of the Parish Council when matters relating to the proposed Sports Pavilion and Community Hall in Wroxton and the proposed Village Hall in Balscote are considered be approved.

(2)               That the dispensation mentioned in (1) above also be given to any new Parish Councillors joining the Parish Council in the meantime, subject to the Parish Clerk providing the relevant details to the Monitoring Officer be approved.

Report of Head of Legal and Democratic Services / Monitoring Officer

Summary

This report presents the draft annual report for 2009/10 for Members' consideration.

Recommendations

The Standards Committee is recommended to:

(1)               Approve the Annual Report 2009/10.

(2)               Approve the publicity arrangements for the Annual Report 2009/10 as set out in the report.

(3)               Recommend to Council that the Annual Report for 2009/10 from the Standards Committee be approved.

(4)               Delegate to the Head of Legal and Democratic Services authority to update the Standards Committee Annual Report 2009/10 in light of any announcements about the Standards Board regime by the Government prior to the publication of the Annual Report.

The Head of Legal and Democratic Services/Monitoring Officer submitted a report which presented the draft Standards Committee Annual Report 2009/10. The Committee noted the section on the Appointments to the Standards Committee and agreed that the report should record the Committees’ thanks to Mr Douglas Frewer and Cllr Bernand Lane who had stood down from the Committee at the end of the 2009/10 Council year.

The Committee discussed the Government’s proposals “to abolish the Standards Board regime”. Members of the Committee noted that the majority of Cherwell District Councillors had welcomed the Government’s decision to save the cost of running Standards for England at this difficult economic time.

The Committee considered the publicity arrangements for the Annual Report 2009/10. Members agreed that the report should be sent electronically to the local press together with a press release, that it should be sent to every Parish Council in the District, where possible electronically, and  published  on the Council’s website.

Resolved

(1)               That the Annual Report 2009/10 be approved subject to the amendments outlined above.

(2)               That the publicity arrangements for the Annual Report 2009/10 would be as follows: send the report electronically to the local media with a press release; send the report, electronically where possible, to every Parish Council in the District; and, publish the report on the Council’s website.

(3)               That the Annual Report for 2009/10 from the Standards Committee be recommended to Council to note.

(4)               That the Head of Legal and Democratic Services be delegated authority to update the Standards Committee Annual Report 2009/10 in light of any announcements about the Standards Board regime by the Government prior to the publication of the Annual Report.