Issue - meetings

To agree Disclosure and Barring Service Checks for Councillors.

Note: Some agenda items being discussed at Standards Committee on 16 February 2023 may impact on this report and it may require updating to account for that Committee’s decision after the meeting. 

Council considered a report that sought approval of Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Checks for Councillors.

It was proposed by Councillor A Mitchell and seconded by Councillor N Gething that the recommendations outlined in the report be agreed.

It was proposed by Councillor Mooney and seconded by Councillor Bateson that a further recommendation of “to agree that DBS checks for members be undertaken by the Council.” be added to the report.

Council resolved to:

1. note the new grounds for disqualification from being elected to, or being a member of, a local authority that have been introduced by the Local Government (Disqualification) Act 2022, and

a)    Approve the introduction of Basic Disclosure and Barring Service checks (DBS) for all councillors;

b)    Agree to adopt the DBS Checks for Members Protocol for inclusion in the Council’s Constitution, and

c)    Agree to delegate to the Monitoring Officer to make the necessary amendments to the terms of reference of the Standards Committee, to include the resolution of issues concerning the discharge of members’ roles in light of DBS check responses.

2.    Agree that DBS checks for members be undertaken by the Council.

To note the report and make a recommendation to Council to:

a)    Approve the introduction of Basic Disclosure and Barring Service checks (DBS) for all councillors;

b)    Agree to adopt the DBS Checks for Members Protocol for inclusion in the Council’s Constitution at Appendix B; and

c)    Agree to delegate to the Monitoring Officer to make the necessary amendments to the terms of reference of the Standards Committee, to include the resolution of issues concerning the discharge of members’ roles in light of DBS check responses.

The Committee considered a report from the Monitoring Officer regarding Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Checks for Councillors. The Committee were asked to make a recommendation to Council to note the new grounds for disqualification from being elected or a member of a local authority introduced by the Local Government (Disqualification) Act 2022. New members would carry out DBS checks once elected to provide reassurance that they were fit and proper to hold office.

The Committee felt that members being requested to undertake DBS checks was appropriate for their roles. Some members expressed concern over equipment and technical knowledge required to complete the DBS checks and it was confirmed that support would be provided to complete the process if required.

The Committee resolved to note the new grounds for disqualification from being elected to, or being a member of, a local authority that have been introduced by the Local Government (Disqualification) Act 2022 as set out in the report; and to recommend to Council to:

a)    Approve the introduction of Basic Disclosure and Barring Service checks (DBS) for all councillors;

b)    Agree to adopt the DBS Checks for Members Protocol for inclusion in the Council’s Constitution at Appendix B; and

c)    Agree to delegate to the Monitoring Officer to make the necessary amendments to the terms of reference of the Standards Committee, to include the resolution of issues concerning the discharge of members’ roles in light of DBS check responses.