Agenda and draft minutes

Resolved: that Councillor Mike Solomon be elected Chairperson for the meeting.

Councillor Solomon in the Chair

A Member must declare any disclosable pecuniary interest where it relates to any matter being considered at the meeting. A declaration of a disclosable pecuniary interest should indicate the interest and the agenda item to which it relates. A Member is not permitted to participate in this agenda item by law and should immediately leave the meeting before the start of any debate.

If the Member leaves the Chamber in respect of a declaration, he or she should ensure that the Chairperson is aware of this before he or she leaves to enable their exit from the meeting to be recorded in the minutes in accordance with Standing Order 37.

None.

The Sub-Committee will be invited to pass the following resolution:

“(1)      That the press, public, and officers not required by the Members, the Chief Executive or the Director, to remain during the exempt session, be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item of business on the ground that its consideration will involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined in Section 100I of the Local Government Act 1972, by virtue of paragraphs 1 and 2 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act”

Also, if appropriate, the following resolution should be passed –

“(2)      That members of the Council who are not members of this Sub-Committee be invited to remain.”

Resolved: that the resolutions be passed.

Item: Minute No. STD 4

Reason for Exemption:

Paragraphs 1 & 2 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972

The Sub-Committee considered a complaint received from a member of the public regarding a North Somerset Councillor, stating that they had breached the North Somerset Council Code of Conduct and the Weston Town Council Code of Conduct. Both were applicable in the circumstances.

The Deputy Monitoring Officer outlined the complaint as detailed in the report provided to the Sub-Committee.

The Sub-Committee considered the complaint, together with the response from the councillor concerned and received the views of the Independent Members’.

In discussing the complaint and reviewing the evidence provided, the Sub-Committee considered the councillor’s actions had not breached the North Somerset Council or Weston Town Council Code of Conduct, and that no further action would be taken.

The Standards Sub-Committee took the opportunity to issue a reminder of the North Somerset Council policy on usage of social media, and the balance between the right of freedom of expression and comments which do not fall within the definition of political expression.

             Resolved: that the Deputy Monitoring Officer write to the Councillor

             and the complainant advising of the decision.