Agenda and minutes

Governance, Ethics and Standards Committee - Thursday, 10 October 2024 2.00 pm

Venue: Committee Room 1, County Hall, Matlock. View directions

Contact: Daniel Mitchell 

Items
No. Item

20/24

Declarations of Interest

To receive declarations of interest (if any)

Minutes:

I Orford declared an interest in item 9 - Extension of the Term of Office of the Independent Person Appointed Under the Localism Act 2011 as the report related to his role as Independent Person.

 

21/24

Minutes pdf icon PDF 82 KB

To confirm the non-exempt minutes of the meeting of the Governance, Ethics and Standards Committee held on 11 July 2024.

Minutes:

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting of the Governance, Ethics and Standards Committee meeting held on 11 July 2024 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

22/24

Minor Changes to the Constitution: Terms of Reference for the Health and Wellbeing Board and Changes to the Responsibilities for the Council’s SIRO and IT Strategy pdf icon PDF 113 KB

Minutes:

H Barrington - Director of Legal and Democratic Services introduced a report, which had been circulated in advance of the meeting that asked the Committee to note that there had been minor changes to the constitution.

 

RESOLVED:

 

  1.     To note the inclusion in the Constitution of the revised terms of reference for the Health and Wellbeing Board approved by Cabinet on 25 July 2024;

 

  1.     To note that the Director of Digital now holds the role SIRO;

 

  1.     To note the update to Appendix 1 – Responsibility for Functions within the Constitution to confirm the responsibility of the Director of Digital in relation to the Information Technology Strategy;

 

  1.     That the required updates to the Constitution had been authorised and completed by the Monitoring Officer who has the delegated power to undertake those amendments; and

 

  1.     That the changes to the Constitution will also be reported to Council.

 

23/24

Annual Review Letter of the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman 2023/24 pdf icon PDF 139 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

H Barrington - Director of Legal and Democratic Services introduced a report, which had been circulated in advance of the meeting that informed the Committee of the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman’s (LGSCO) Annual Review Letter for the year ended 31 March 2024.  Helen Wallace, interim Director of Schools and Learning gave a presentation to the Committee in respect of the SEND complaints and Councillor Alex Dale also gave a verbal update in his role as the relevant Cabinet Member.

 

RESOLVED that:

 

  1.     The Committee notes the Annual Review Letter of the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman for the year ending 31 March 2024 and notes that a report on this matter will be considered by Cabinet on 17 October 2024;

 

  1.     In light of the increase in SEND complaints, the report should be brought to the attention of the Chair of the Improvement and Scrutiny Committee People in order for the Committee to determine whether to investigate further; and

 

  1.     The report should be brought to the attention of all elected members in an appropriate way agreed by the Chair of Governance, Ethics and Standards Committee with relevant officers and the Cabinet Member.

 

24/24

Complaints received against Councillors pursuant to the Code of Conduct for Elected Members for the period 21 February 2024 to 30 September 2024 pdf icon PDF 93 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

H Barrington -  Director of Legal and Democratic Services introduced a report, which had been circulated in advance of the meeting that informed the Committee of Code of Conduct complaints against Councillors received during the period of 21 February 2024 to 30 September 2024.

 

RESOLVED to note:

 

The complaints received by the Monitoring Officer between 21 February 2024 to 30 September 2024 alleging that Members have breached the Code of Conduct.

25/24

Councillor Attendance at Meetings pdf icon PDF 88 KB

Minutes:

H Barrington - Director of Legal and Democratic Services introduced a report, which had been circulated in advance of the meeting that considered the statistics regarding attendance of members at meetings within the context of member development and the effectiveness of the political structure.

 

RESOLVED:

 

  1. To note the position with regard to member attendance at meetings; and

 

  1. That there is no cause for concern with regarding to member development and the effectiveness of the political structure.

 

26/24

Register of Gifts and Hospitality 1 April 2023 – 31 March 2024 pdf icon PDF 125 KB

Minutes:

H Barrington - Director of Legal and Democratic Services introduced a report, which had been circulated in advance of the meeting that informed the Committee of gifts and hospitality offered and recorded during 2023-2024 (1 April 2023 - 31 March 2024).

 

RESOLVED:

 

That Committee notes the Annual Gifts & Hospitality Register for 2023-2024.

 

27/24

Extension of the term of office of the Independent Person appointed under the Localism Act 2011 pdf icon PDF 111 KB

Minutes:

H Barrington - Director of Legal and Democratic Services introduced a report, which had been circulated in advance of the meeting that supported an extension to the current term of office of the Independent Person, Ian Orford, and made recommendations to full Council.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That the Committee recommends to Council that the term of office for Mr Ian Orford as Independent Person under the Localism Act 2011 be extended for a further four years from 3 February 2025.