Agenda item - Member Involvement

To consider the following matters raised by councillors:

(a)          Petitions: to receive any petitions submitted to the full Council or at the meeting itself;

(b)         Written Questions: to consider any written questions;

(c)          Letters: to consider any letters;

(d)       Notices of Motion: to consider any Notices of Motion referred from Council or submitted directly to the Committee.

33.1      The Committee considered a letter submitted by Councillor Shanks relating to poor standards of behaviour by councillors in council and committtee meetings.

33.2      The Chair provided the following response:

“Thank you presenting your letter and bringing your concerns to us. Your comments made are noted.

In terms of the conduct of elected members, this Council does have in place a detailed set of arrangements which aim to make sure that councillors stay within the Nolan principles at all times, including (but not only) at Council meetings, which as we all know, are webcast and may be viewed online.

The arrangements we have in place are regularly reviewed, as is the training we offer all members to  ensure compliance with the Code. This subject matter is the subject of regular Reports to each meeting of this Committee.

Also, as it happens, on today’s agenda we have our annual review of complaints which assesses themes and trends and offers members the opportunity to ask questions and to make suggestions for actions to be taken having considered the landscape overall. In this context, it is not considered that a review of the type requested is either necessary or a proportionate use of officer resources”.

33.3      Resolved- That the Committee note the Letter.