Archived decisions
AT A MEETING of the HAMPSHIRE FIRE AND RESCUE AUTHORITY STANDARDS COMMITTEE held at The Castle, Winchester on 9 December, 2005
PRESENT:
Councillors: M.J. Woodhall (Chairman); Mrs. J. Frankum; E.F. Gale MBE, P. Galton; D. Harrison.
[NOTE: WHILST THE MEETING WAS INQUORATE DUE TO NEITHER INDEPENDENT MEMBER BEING IN ATTENDANCE, MEMBERS AGREED TO CONTINUE ON AN INFORMAL BASIS AS NONE OF THE ITEMS BEFORE THEM ON THIS OCCASION REQUIRED ANY FORMAL DECISIONS]
34 APOLOGIES
Apologies for absence were received from Councillor K. Kimber, Mrs. W. Allen and Miss S. Roberts.
35 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Members were mindful that, where they believed that had a personal or personal prejudicial interest in any matter to be considered at the meeting, they should, normally at the time of debate, declare their interest and having regard to the circumstances described in paragraphs 9, 10, 11 and 12 of the Fire Authority's Code of Conduct consider whether to leave the meeting whilst the matter was discussed.
There were no declarations of interest made by Members under this item.
36 MINUTES
The Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 28 September, 2004 were received and would be confirmed at the next meeting.
Arising thereon:
Annual Assembly of Standards Committee - 5th & 6th September 2005, Birmingham
The Committee heard from the Chairman, Councillor M. Woodhall, D. Harrison and the Clerk about their attendance at this year's Assembly. The Clerk expressed his disappointment about the event particularly in relation to any useful information to Monitoring Officers. Whilst the Chairman also had some criticisms, Councillor Harrison who had attended the Assembly for the first time, found the two days both informative and interesting. It was noted that there were many more independent members at the Assembly this year.
The Clerk reported his intention to organise a Standards Committee Seminar on the Code of Conduct next year at The Castle, Winchester. Appropriate County Council, Fire and Police Authority Members would be invited. It was intended to bring Members up-to-date on relevant Standards Board developments and other issues, including the outcome of complaints against members nationally.
37 DEPUTATIONS
There were no deputations to the meeting.
38 ROLE OF INDEPENDENT MEMBERS
The Committee considered the report of the Clerk (Item 5 in the Minute Book) about the role of Independent Members on Standards Committee.
The Clerk confirmed the statutory requirement was for Standards Committees to contain at least 25% of its Members who are independent of the Authority. It was noted that some Authorities had gone beyond this with more than 50% of Members being independent of the parent Authority. The Committee were informed that the only advice given by the Standards Board regarding the number of Independent Members was that there should be at least two. The other issue for Members mentioned in the report involved whether or not the Standards Committee should be chaired by an independent member. They acknowledged that whereas an independent Member Chairman may enhance public perception of the Standards Committee and its work, it might have the effect of preventing Councillors from considering that they fully own the process.
Following a full discussion of the matters referred to above, the Committee concluded in favour of recommending an increase in the current number of independent members from two to three. Also, whilst supporting the principle of an independent member chairing the Standards Committee they felt this was perhaps something more appropriate for the Authority itself to consider at its Annual Meeting next May, when it reviewed appointments to Committees etc. Accordingly, it was
RESOLVED:
That it be a RECOMMENDATION to the Authority:
(a) That the number of independent members on the HFRA Standards Committee be increased from two to three.
(b) That the question of whether or not the Standards Committee shall be chaired by an independent member be considered at the Annual Meeting of the Authority on 31 May, 2006.