Agenda item - Constitutional Matters

Report of the Monitoring Officer

1)    That the Committee’s terms of reference, which are published in Part 4 of the Council’s Constitution and are set out in Appendix 1 to this report, be noted; and

2)    That this Committee formally confirm the establishment of a Standards Panel in accordance with the terms of reference proposed in Appendix 1.

7.1          The Committee considered the report of the Executive Lead for Strategy Governance & Law that provided information on the Audit & Standards’ Committee terms of reference and sought the committee’s formal confirmation to the appointment of a Standards Panel.

7.2          In response to Councillor Hugh-Jones asking how the proposed future re-structuring of committees fit with this report, Victoria Simpson, Senior Lawyer – Corporate Law stated that the specific functions currently delegated to the Audit and Standards committee were as outlined in the terms of reference. There was not considered to be any likelihood of imminent change to this Committee’s responsibilities. If that position were to change in future and proposals were to be mooted to change this Committee’s responsibilities, then officers would bring a report to members on this subject.

7.3          RESOLVED -

1)    That the Committee’s terms of reference, which are published in Part 4 of the Council’s Constitution and are set out in Appendix 1 to this report, be noted; and

2)    That this Committee formally confirm the establishment of a Standards Panel in accordance with the terms of reference proposed in Appendix 1.