Shrewsbury & Atcham
Borough Council

PRESENT: Councillors Armstrong, Freestone and Parkhurst

Mr L J Bradburn, Mr F W Leath, Mr J Till, Mrs E Francis and Mrs B Carlyle

Officers in attendance: Assistant Solicitor (Deputy Monitoring Officer) and the Assistant ICT Manager

RESOLVED:

That Councillor Parkhurst be appointed Chairman of this Committee for the period to the Annual Meeting of the Council in May 2008.

RESOLVED:

That Mr F.W. Leath be appointed as Vice Chairman of this Committee for the period to the Annual Meeting of the Council in May 2008.

39/07 MINUTES: 17^th April 2007 – confirmed.

40/07 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: Mrs J Buckley and Mrs Y Holyoak

41/07 CHAIRMAN’S ANNOUNCEMENTS

The Chairman welcomed Mr Bradburn to his first meeting of the Standards Committee following his appointment and Mr Leath following his re-appointment to the committee.

42/07 INFORMATION SECURITY POLICIES

Consideration was given to a report of the ICT and Customer Services Manager in relation to Information Security Policies

RESOLVED:

That it be recommended to Council that the Mobile Technology Good Practice Guide attached to the report by the ICT and Customer Services Manager be adopted and included in the Constitution.

43/07 CODE OF CONDUCT

The Deputy Monitoring Officer reported that the new Code of Conduct for members was adopted at its Annual Meeting held on 17^th May 2007 and highlighted the provisions of the new Code for the benefit of Members of the Committee

44/07 ETHICAL GOVERNANCE AUDIT – OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY

Consideration was given to a report of the Monitoring Officer in relation to the comments of the Overview and Scrutiny Committees in response to the Ethical Governance Audit.

RESOLVED:

That the comments of the Overview and Scrutiny Committees be noted, and their recommendations be held in abeyance pending the outcome of overview and scrutiny training.

45/07 CABINET PROCEDURE RULES

Consideration was given to whether any amendments were required to the Cabinet Procedure Rules to which no amendments had been proposed by The Group Leaders, Independent Members, and relevant officers.

RESOLVED:

That the Cabinet Procedure Rules be not amended at this time.

46/07 COUNCIL PROCEDURE RULES

Consideration was given to whether any amendments were required to the Council Procedure Rules to which no amendments had been proposed by The Group Leaders, Independent Members, and relevant officers.

RESOLVED:

That the Council Procedure Rules be not amended at this time.

47/07 BUDGET AND POLICY FRAMEWORK PROCEDURE RULES (INCLUDING STANDING ORDERS REGULATING PROCEEDINGS AND BUSINESS)

Consideration was given to whether any amendments were required to the Budget And Policy Framework Procedure Rules (including Standing Orders Regulating Proceedings and Business) to which no amendments had been proposed by The Group Leaders, Independent Members, and relevant officers.

RESOLVED:

That the Budget And Policy Framework Procedure Rules (including Standing Orders Regulating Proceedings and Business) be not amended at this time.

48/07 OUTCOME OF COMPLAINTS TO THE STANDARDS BOARD

The Committee was informed of the decision of the Standards Board for England to not investigate allegations that had been made that Councillors Chebsey, Durnell and Mrs Sandford MBE of Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council had failed to comply with the Code of Conduct.

RESOLVED:

That the decision of the Standards Board for England to not investigate the allegation made against Councillors Chebsey, Durnell and Mrs Sandford MBE be noted.

Consideration was given to the Work Programme and whether any amendments might be required by members.

RESOLVED:

That the Work Programme be approved.

6.30 p.m. – 7.20 p.m.