Archived decisions

ITEM 2

AT A MEETING of the STANDARDS COMMITTEE of the HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL held at The Castle, Winchester on 8 July 2003.

PRESENT:

Councillors: P.A. Pierce (Chairman); Mrs. S.E. Allbright; Mrs. S.M. Glasspool, DL; A. Ludlow; A.W. Rice, TD; W.H. Wheeler.

Independent Members - Mr J. Chester; Dr. B. Spender

Also present: Councillors Mrs A.E. Bailey, A. Dowden, R. Price (Complainants)

Councillor P.A. Heath (Respondent)

Councillor T.K. Thornber, CBE; Councillor M.J. Woodhall

52 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Members were mindful that, where they believed they had a personal or personal prejudicial interest in any matter to be considered at the meeting, they should, normally at the time of the debate, declare their interest and, having regard to the circumstances described in paragraphs 9, 10, 11 and 12 of the County Council's Code of Conduct, consider whether to leave the meeting whilst the matter was discussed. All the elected Members declared an interest as Councillors, and the Head of Legal Practice and Deputy Monitoring Officer advised that these did not amount to prejudicial interests and that the Members concerned could remain in the meeting, speak and vote during the course of the relevant debate. Councillor A. Ludlow declared a personal prejudicial interest as one of the complainants, and although a member of the Standards Committee he took no part in proceedings, did not speak and did not vote.

53 CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS

Copies of further correspondence were circulated and copies are set out in the Minute Book.

54 COMPLAINT OF MEMBER CONDUCT

The Committee considered a report of the Head of Corporate and Legal Services and Monitoring Officer (Item 3 in the Minute Book) arising from a complaint made by six Members of the County Council against Councillor Heath, in relation to remarks which he was alleged to have made at the February County Council meeting. The Committee first of all considered the suggested procedure set out on the fifth page and endorsed the proposals, subject to the amendment of section 6 to the effect that the Standards Committee would debate the issues and reach a decision in the presence of all the parties and in the presence of the press and public, rather than to consider the complaint in private.

The Committee accordingly considered a short presentation from the Head of Corporate and Legal Services and Monitoring Officer on the respective responsibilities of the Standards Committee and the Standards Board for England as regards complaints against Members. The Committee then considered a statement from Councillor Heath who explained the background to his remarks, which were based on a quotation from a Labour Party leaflet; in his view this was part of the cut and thrust of political debate and he was not minded to retract his comments.

The Committee then considered representations from the complainants who felt that Councillor Heath's remarks were offensive and asked for an apology to resolve the matter.

Members of the Standards Committee then debated the issues raised and asked questions of the parties. The independent members expressed the view that the words used did not constitute appropriate language and went beyond political banter. However the elected Members were of the view that the words complained of arose during the course of a robust and heated debate and that forthright language was something that should be expected by elected Councillors. All Members felt that the words, and the reactions to them, had been blown up out of all proportion and had led to an unnecessary waste of time and money.

RESOLVED:

(i) That the words used by Councillor Heath, the subject of the complaint, are not considered to be inappropriate in the context of a political debate at the County Council's meeting.


(ii) That the Head of Corporate and Legal Services and Monitoring Officer be asked to reinforce guidance to all elected Members on the provisions within the Constitution, the County Council's Standing Orders and the Member/Officer protocols relating to mutual respect and the need for restraint in avoiding intemperate or abusive language or behaviour.

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