To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 17^th May 2004.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 17^th May, 2004 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.  (For copy see file of Minutes). 

A verbal presentation will be given at the meeting by the Monitoring Officer.

The Monitoring Officer reported that one training event had been held on

20^th July, 2004 at Sedgefield Borough Council offices.

It was also reported that the new website for Standards and Ethics was now complete with the most recent information being made available.

To consider a report of the Director of Resources.

Consideration was given to a report of  the Director of Resources detailing the findings of a review of the Council’s Confidential Reporting Policy.  (For copy see file of Minutes).

The report considered the current position of the Confidential Reporting Policy detailing that it was in addition to the Council’s Complaints and Grievance Procedure. It also considered the current procedure and detailed the review of the current policy, which concluded that it compared favourably with neighbouring authorities and was still the best policy. 

It was questioned whether Town and Parish Clerks were kept up-to-date with the new legislation and procedures. The Monitoring Officer stated that the Clerks were included on a distribution list to receive current information.  The completion of the website would also be another source of information.

10^th February, 2004 at 2.00 p.m. at the Council Chamber, Council Offices, Spennymoor.