Standards Committee 13 July 2007

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Standards Committee 13 July 2007

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West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority

Meeting of the Standards Committee held on

13 July 2007 at Fire Service Headquarters, Birkenshaw

Present : Councillors J Cole, A Harrison and G Wilkinson

L Knowles

P E J Marshall (in the Chair)

1 Minutes of the Last Meeting

Resolved

That Minutes of the Committee at a meeting held on 9 March 2007 be signed by the Chair as a correct record.

2 Urgent Items

None.

3 Admission of the Public

The Committee determined that there were no items which should be considered in the absence of the public.

4 Declarations of Interest

No disclosures of interest in matters under consideration were made.

5 Revised Code of Conduct – Proposed Adoption

The Director of Corporate Resources and Monitoring Officer submitted a report which invited Members to consider the recommendation of a revised Code of Conduct for adoption by the Authority.

Members were advised that the current Code of Conduct used by the Authority was made pursuant to requirements of the Local Government Act 2000 and the Local Authorities (Model Code of Conduct) England Order 2001. This legislation had since been revoked and Government had issued a new 2007 Order requiring the adoption of a revised Code of Conduct by positive resolution by 1 October 2007.

Some significant changes between the old and the new Codes were highlighted in the report now submitted. The new Code included;

• application only in the performance of a Members’ functions as a Member

• a new offence of bullying

It was reported that certain of the provisions were not mandatory in relation to the West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority and Members were invited to make recommendations with regard to the following;

• requirement to have regard to any applicable code of publicity made under the Local Government Act 1986

• the permission of Members with a prejudicial interest to remain in a public meeting for the purposes of making representations, answering questions or giving evidence – this would require similar provisions to be made available to members of the public

Resolved

That the report be noted.

Recommended

That, in relation to the adoption of a new Code of Conduct in compliance with the Local Government Act 2000 and the Local Authorities (Model Code of Conduct) Order 2007, the Authority be

recommended;

(i) not to adopt the provisions contained within paragraph 12 (2);

(ii) to adopt paragraph 6(c), (requirement to have regard to any applicable code of publicity made under the Local Government Act 1986);

(iii) to adopt the “Ten General Principles of Public Life” (as attached as an annex to the report now submitted); and

(iv) to adopt the revised Code of Conduct (as amended).

6 Regional Independent Members’ Network Forum – 22 March 2007

Resolved

That the Minutes of the meeting of the Regional Independent members’ Network Forum on 22 March 2007 be noted.

7 Date of the Next Meeting

Resolved

That the next meeting be held on 9 November 2007.

Chair