Agenda item - The new standards regime - one year on

Report of the Head of Law & Monitoring Officer (copy attached).

45.1         The Committee considered a report in relation to the first year of the new Standards regime for the local authority. The report sought to review the operation of the Council’s Code of Conduct and standards arrangements since their adoption in 2012, and to consider recent guidance from Central Government.

45.2         It was confirmed for Councillor Wealls that in relation to disclosable pecuniary interests the regulations specifically referenced the nominal value of assets, rather than the material value.

45.3         The Committee discussed sanctions that could be imposed by a Standards Panel and it was clarified that the formal decision to remove a Member from a Committee would still sit with the appropriate Group leader and the Panel could only make recommendations.

45.4         RESOLVED – That the Committee note the report and the new Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) Guidance on interests and agree that no further changes are required to the Council’s Code of Conduct for Members at this stage.