Minutes of the Standards Committee
22 October 2025
Present:
M. Hull (Vice-Chair)
Councillors:
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M.M. Attewell C. Bateson J.R. Boughtflower |
J. Button D.L. Geraci K.M. Grant
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M.J. Lee S.C. Mooney
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In Attendance: |
Councillors A. Burrell and J. Sexton |
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14/25 |
Minutes
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Committee resolved to agree the minutes of the meeting held 11 June 2025.
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15/25 |
Disclosures of Interest
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There were no disclosures of interest.
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16/25 |
Chair and Vice-Chair Positions on the Standards Committee
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The Council’s Monitoring Officer advised the Committee that the previous Independent Chair had resigned and that the current Vice-Chair would be chairing the Committee. A recruitment exercise would be undertaken in the new year to appoint a new Independent Chair.
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17/25 |
Update to Climate Change Working Group Terms of Reference
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The Committee considered a report that had previously been brought before the Environment and Sustainability Committee on 18 September and they had resolved to make a recommendation to the Standards Committee.
The Committee resolved to make a recommendation to Council to:
1. Approve the change of name of the ‘Climate Change Working Group’ to the ‘Climate and Nature Working Group’,
2. Approve the Revised Terms of Reference as outlined in Appendix A of the report; and
3. To adopt the changes into the Council’s Constitution.
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18/25 |
Review of the Members Code of Conduct (provisional)
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The Committee received an update on the review of the Councillor Code of Conduct.
The Committee resolved to acknowledge the update on the review of the Councillor Code of Conduct.
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19/25 |
Changes to Contract Standing Orders
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The Committee considered a report that sought a recommendation to be made to Council.
The Committee resolved to:
1. Consider the updated Contract Standing Orders; and
2. Recommend that the Council approve the updated Contract Standing Orders as set out in the report.
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20/25 |
Update on Standards Investigation
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The Council’s Monitoring Officer updated the Committee on the external review relating to the Standards Sub-Committee Hearing on 17 October 2024 that had been completed.
The Committee were asked to consider options in Section 3 of the report and to approve the recommendation in Sections 3.1 and 3.2 of the report.
The Committee considered whether the report should be discussed in an open or private session. A vote was taken as follows:
To go into a closed session – 4 votes
To remain in an open session – 4 votes
The Committee were advised that there was a deadlock and that if the balance was equal or tipped toward disclosure the information must be made public therefore the meeting remained in an open session.
Councillor Geraci requested a named vote
The Committee voted on the recommendations in Section 3.1 and 3.2 separately as follows:
Recommendation 3.1 – Determine that the decision made by the Hearing stands, is final, cannot be re-opened and no further action shall be taken –
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For |
Councillors Attewell, Boughtflower, Lee, Mooney – 4 votes |
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Against |
Councillors Bateson, Button, Geraci, Grant – 4 votes |
Recommendation 3.2 – Accept the recommendations set out in paragraphs 124-127 (inclusive) of the report produced by The Investigating Officer –
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For |
Councillors Attewell, Boughtflower, Lee, Mooney – 4 votes |
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Against |
Councillors Bateson, Button, Geraci, Grant – 4 votes |
As both of the above votes resulted in a deadlock situation, the Committee were advised that the recommendations FELL.