Agenda item

The Monitoring Officer submitted for information a report outlining the content of the 7^th Annual Assembly of Standards Committees held on 13^th/14^th October, 2008 which he and his Solicitor colleague had attended on behalf of the Council.  The 7^th Annual Assembly’s theme had been “Delivering the Goods – Local Standards in Action” and was primarily concerned with the progress and development of the newly devolved framework to local Standards Committees.  The Conference also represented an invaluable opportunity for networking and the sharing of experiences and solutions with other local authorities, their Members, Monitoring Officers and Independent Co-opted Members.

Summaries of the “Breakout Sessions” attended by the Officers were submitted to the Committee for information.  The Monitoring Officer drew attention to a matter which had been highlighted at one of these sessions in relation to the use of alternative action such as mediation and conciliation instead of referring a complaint for investigation.  He reported that under the current rules if an Assessment Sub-Committee decided that a form of alternative action should be adopted and  the Member subsequently withdrew from the process the matter could not be brought back to the Sub-Committee and would fall by the way.  In view of this he proposed that wherever possible he would, in consultation with Group Leaders, seek to use an informal approach in cases where mediation or conciliation was thought to be the most effective option.

Resolved -   That the information report now submitted be noted.