Agenda item

The Committee considered a report of the Head of Legal and Democratic Services and Monitoring Officer which invited the Committee to consider the recruitment of Independent Persons prior to the expiry of the term of office of the existing Independent Persons in September 2023 (for copy see file of Minutes).

The Head of Legal and Democratic Services and Monitoring Officer advised the Committee that a Special meeting of the Standards Committee would be held on 10 May 2023 seeking to agree the recommendations to Council to appoint two new Independent Persons.

Members discussed the recruitment process of the Independent Persons, in particular that the Persons recruited would need to be Independent and why did they feel the need to recruit an extra Independent Person.

The Head of Legal and Democratic Services and Monitoring Officer responded that the recruitment process was tried and tested and had been used previously and successfully. The recruitment of a third Person was to provide resilience in the event that Independent Persons were away on holiday or unwell and advised the Committee that this would not be an additional cost to the Council.

In response to concerns in relation to the Independence of the Persons the Head of Legal and Democratic Services and Monitoring Officer advised that legislation defines the Independence and provided details. She also advised the Committee that they did ask questions in relation to political activity but membership of a political party did not prevent someone from becoming an Independent Person.

In response to a question from Councillor Atkinson, the Head of Legal and Democratic Services and Monitoring Officer indicated that the role on the Independent Persons was a specific role in being consulted in relation to complaints and making representations to the Committee before it determines if there was a breach of the Members Code of Conduct and whether to impose sanctions. As part of the interview process, they do test the candidates experience of gather and review information and reach an objective conclusion such as conducting disciplinaries and/or investigations. Whilst the Committee has to hear from the Independent Person before it reaches a conclusion it is for the Committee to determine how much weight they apply to those representations; the Committee do not necessarily have to follow any recommendations that the Independent Person might make.

Resolved: (i) Noted that Kayleigh Louise Wilkinson is no longer able to act as Independent Person.

(ii) That the Head of Legal and Democratic Services commences a recruitment exercise with a view to appointing two new Independent Persons to the Standards Committee.

(iii) That shortlisted applicants be interviewed by the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Standards Committee supported by the Head of Legal and Democratic Services.

(iv) That A further report be presented to the Standards Committee following the interviews seeking to agree recommendations to Council to appoint two new Independent Persons.