Meeting Details

Members are reminded that they should declare any personal and/or prejudicial interests at this point and that they should leave the meeting before any item, in which they have a prejudicial interest, is discussed.

Members are asked to agree the minutes of the last meeting of the Standards Committee, held on 1 August 2007, and that they be signed as a correct record.

To receive any questions, statements or petitions, of which notice has been received, from members of the public.

A revised model code of conduct for elected Members was adopted by the Fire Authority on 1 August 2007. This report addresses some of the current issues that relate to the new Code.

This report provides details of the outcome of the Code of Conduct training, which took place on the 19 of July 2007, and advises Members of forthcoming training.

This report seeks to address issues raised by the Committee following their initial consideration of the amended procedures in relation to local determinations, investigations and hearings.

This report advises Members of the main issues discussed at the Sixth Annual Assembly of Standards Committees and asks Members to review the constitution of the Fire Authority’s Standards Committee in light of developments.

Attached, marked 9, is the latest Bulletin (no. 35 – September 2007) issued by the Standards Board for England, copies of which have been emailed to all Members (including the two Independent Members of the Standards Committee). As previously agreed by the Committee, the Bulletins are now brought to Members for discussion. For information

The Corporate Services Manager will provide an update on this issue. For information

As part of its continued support the Standards Board for England has produced a DVD, which uses a fictional planning application dispute to illustrate the key changes to the revised Model Code of Conduct. The DVD examines the rules about declaring interests, disclosing confidential information and bullying. The Board has recommended that standards committees and officers watch this DVD and use it as a tool for discussion. Accordingly, the Committee will be asked to watch the DVD at this point in the meeting and to consider whether or not a screening of the DVD should be provided for all Members of the Fire Authority, in the presence of the Monitoring Officer, in order that any questions raised can be addressed. For decision