Archived decisions

AT A MEETING of the STANDARDS COMMITTEE of the HAMPSHIRE POLICE AUTHORITY held at Westgate Chambers, Winchester on 14 March, 2002

PRESENT:

Mrs. C. Barratt; Mrs. W. Burton; Mr. R. Coldham; Councillor A. Collett; Mr. G.M. King JP; Councillor Mrs. M. Snaith.

1 APPOINTMENT OF CHAIRMAN

RESOLVED:

That Mr. G.M. King JP be appointed Chairman.

2 MODEL CODE OF CONDUCT FOR MEMBERS

The Committee considered a report of the Clerk (Item 2 in the Minute Book) which set out the terms of the Model Code of Conduct for Members of the Hampshire Police Authority with a view to its recommendation to the full meeting of the Authority for adoption on 30 April, 2002.

Members noted the implications of amending the Statutory Code and agreed that any supplementary provisions considered necessary should be contained within a separate Local Code. It was agreed that any suggestions for inclusion in a Local Code should be forwarded to the Clerk in the next six weeks. A report would then be submitted to the next meeting of the Standards Committee.

The Committee was advised that forms would be available at the next meeting of the Authority, following the adoption of the Code of Conduct, in order that Members could sign up to the Code immediately. Any Members not present would be sent a form by post. In this respect, the Committee noted that the requirements of the Code would also apply to the two "external" independent Members.

In addition, the Committee agreed that training on the Code of Conduct, afforded recently to Members of the Standards Committee, should be made available to all Members of the Authority prior to the adoption of the Code by the Authority at its meeting on 30 April, 2002. Any Members not able to attend that training session would be recommended to attend a further session to be arranged following the meeting of the Authority.

The Committee then considered the Model Code of Conduct in detail and it was consequently:-

RESOLVED:

(a) That the Statutory Model Code of Conduct for Members be endorsed and that the Police Authority be RECOMMENDED to adopt it at its next meeting.


(b) That those Members of the Authority who had not received training on the Code of Conduct be offered the opportunity of training prior to the next meeting of the full Authority on 30 April, 2002 and that those not able to attend on that date be recommended to attend a further session to be arranged following that meeting.


(c) That a report be submitted to the next meeting of the Standards Committee on whether the Authority can assist financially Members in respect of whom complaints of misconduct are made to the Standards Board.


(d) That a report be submitted to the next meeting of the Standards Committee on the possible establishment of a Local Code of Conduct.

3 MODEL CODE OF CONDUCT - GRANT OF DISPENSATIONS

The Committee considered a report of the Clerk (Item 3 in the Minute Book) on the circumstances in which the Relevant Authorities (Standards Committee) (Dispensations) Regulations 2002 apply to the Standards Committee to grant dispensations to Members in circumstances which would otherwise prohibit them from taking part and voting on matters coming before the Authority.

RESOLVED:

That the circumstances in which the Committee may grant dispensations under the provisions of the Relevant Authorities (Standards Committee) (Dispensations) Regulations 2002 be noted.

4 ROLE AND DUTIES OF THE MONITORING OFFICER

The Committee considered a report of the Clerk (Item 4 in the Minute Book) which gave details of the expanded role and duties of the Monitoring Officer under the Local Government Act 2000.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

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