Agenda item

Consideration was given to the report of the Chair of the Parish and Town Council Sub Committee which provided an update in relation to the work which had been undertaken by the sub committee since the last meeting (for copy see file of Minutes).

Members were advised that due to summer recess the number of visits which had been undertaken had reduced, however a number of visits were planned over the coming months.

Mrs T Naples queried the current position regarding the Localism Bill and also any work which was being undertaken by Durham County Council in relation to preparing a future Code. The Deputy Monitoring Officer clarified that the Bill was still progressing through the Parliament. Many amendments had been proposed to the Standards part of the Bill and the Government had indicated that they would discuss those amendments before the Bill was debated again in the Lords. At this stage it was not possible to predict what detailed form the revised Standards regime would take.

As such he confirmed that although the matter had been considered by the Constitution Working Group it had not been possible to progress preparations until such time as the future was clearer,

Resolved:

That the report be noted.