Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber - South Cambs Hall. View directions

Contact: Patrick Adams  01954 713000 Email: democratic.services@scambs.gov.uk

Media

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies for Absence

To receive Apologies for Absence from Committee members.

Minutes:

Apologies for Absence were received from Councillor Bridget Smith and Councillor Dr Aidan Van de Weyer.

2.

Declarations of Interest

Minutes:

Councillors Paul Bearpark, Anna Bradnam, Mark Howell and Heather Williams all declared an interest in agenda item 5 as it was possible that they knew the members of Waterbeach Parish Council who were the subject of complaints mentioned in the report.

3.

Minutes of Previous Meeting pdf icon PDF 106 KB

To authorise the Chairman to sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 8 December 2022 as a correct record.

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on 8 December 2022 were agreed as a correct record.

4.

Assistants for Political Groups pdf icon PDF 241 KB

Minutes:

The Monitoring Officer presented this report, which proposed that the Committee recommend that Council amend the Constitution to allow for the appointment of political assistants.

 

It was noted that the proposed constitutional amendment allowed the Council to appoint political assistants. To actually appoint political assistants would require a separate decision. It was understood that if a political assistant resigned the post would still remain.

 

Councillor Dr Susan van de Ven proposed and Councillor Heather Williams seconded the recommendation in the report. A vote was taken and by affirmation

 

The Committee

 

Recommended that Council            Amend the Constitution to allow for the appointment of Political Assistants.

5.

Update on Code of Conduct Complaints pdf icon PDF 212 KB

Minutes:

The Monitoring Officer reported that an independent investigator, who was a barrister, with Code of Conduct experience, had investigated complaints made against members of Waterbeach Parish Council and decided not to uphold the complaints. After consultation, the Deputy Independent Person had agreed with the investigator’s decision.

 

On the South Cambridgeshire District Council member complaint, the Deputy Monitoring Officer, after consulting with the Independent Person, decided not to investigate the complaint as it did not merit a formal investigation as there had been no breach of the Code of Conduct.

 

The Committee noted the report.

6.

Date of Next Meeting

Tuesday 4 July at 10 am.

Minutes:

Councillor Anna Bradnam thanked the Monitoring Officer for all his work in supporting the Committee and wished him well in his new position. Councillor Brian Milnes thanked Councillor Bradnam for her work as Chair of the Committee.

 

It was noted that the next meeting would be held on Tuesday 4 July 2023 at 10 am.