Minutes for Standards Committee meeting, Jan 13 2010, 6.30PM official page

This Report on the Complaints and Members’ Enquiries Procedures provides Members with an update on progress since April 2009 and on the steps that are being taken to address any under-performance.

This report introduces the Standards Committee to the governance of partnership arrangements within Hackney through the Partnership Code of Practice, and updates the committee on implementation of the Code of Practice.

An application has been made by the post holder of the post of Contracts Officer, Drug and Alcohol Team on the basis that whilst the post is politically restricted due to the salary exceeding the statutory threshold, the duties do not include those which require political restriction.

The Council’s Proper Officer has certified that the duties of the post do not consist of or involve the particular duties which require political restriction and if the Committee is satisfied in that regard it must issue a direction removing the political restriction.

This report is presented to the Standards Committee which has a statutory duty to consider any application for exemption from political restriction in respect of any Council post.

The Planning Code which was first developed in 2003 is being reviewed alongside the Council’s Constitution.

This revised Planning Code is presented to Standards Committee before it is considered further.

The Council has developed a Licensing Code alongside the Planning Code which was developed in 2003.

The Licensing Code is presented to Standards Committee before it is considered further.

The Corporate Director of Legal and Democratic Services invited the Council’s Internal Auditor to conduct an audit of ethical governance within the Council.

The purpose of the audit is to identify areas for further improvement in ethical governance in the Council.

This report summarises for the information of Members the contents of Bulletin No. 46 published by the Standards for England (SfE).