Agenda and minutes

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 20 October 2021.

The minutes of the Standards Committee held on 20 October 2021 were agreed.

To receive any disclosures of interest from councillors in accordance with the Council’s Code of Conduct for members.

There were none.

To consider revised arrangements for dealing with complaints against councillors.

The local arrangements had been updated following the issuing of revised best practice by the Local Government Association.

It was acknowledged that standards complaints were time consuming to administer and that there were a significant number of cases still awaiting resolution due to the number of complaints received.  The committee therefore hoped that the new arrangements, which clarified the Monitoring Officer’s authority on determining any initial action on the receipt of complaints, would result in speedier outcomes being reached in many cases.  Mechanisms, to ensure that complainants were kept apprised of progress on their complaints, had also been incorporated.

It was resolved that the revised arrangements for member code of conduct complains be approved.

To note those complaints dealt with under the Member Code of Conduct arrangements between November 2021 and February 2022.

The Monitoring Officer provided an overview of the number of complaints (including any outcomes) that had been received since the previous report in October 2021.

The Committee remained disappointed at the number and nature of the complaints that continued to be received.

It was resolved that the report be noted.

To approve the membership of the Committee System Working Group.

The membership arrangements had been amended to account for frequent changes in political groups at Spelthorne.

It was resolved that the membership of the Committee System Working Group comprise of all Group Leaders and independent members that exist at the time of any meeting of the Working Group, and one additional named Conservative member.