Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Monitoring Officer (copy enclosed).

The Council considered the report of the Monitoring Officer seeking Member’ agreement to re-constitute the Joint Standards Committee (JSC).

At its meeting on 13 July 2023 the Council had agreed to disband the JSC without establishing a new composition.  Members were reminded of Section 53 of the Local Government Act 2000 which required the Council to have a Standards Committee and reference set out in the Council’s Constitution relating to establishment of a JSC.

Appendix A to the report detailed nominations to the JSC made by the different political groups and where further nominations were required.

The Chairperson moved the recommendations set out in the report and these were duly seconded.

Councillor W Stamp asked that her disappointment that the Council was going back to old ways of working be noted.  She commented that the Motion she had brought forward at the last meeting of the Council was to move forward.

The Chairperson then called for nominations for one additional Member from either the District Support, Liberal Democrat or Maldon District Independent Group, as set out in Appendix 1 to the report.  The following nominations were made and duly seconded:

·                  Councillor R H Siddall nominated Councillor E L Stephens;

·                  Councillor W Stamp nominated Councillor L J Haywood;

·                  Councillor J Driver nominated Councillor K Jennings.

The Chairperson then called for nominations for one non-aligned Member.  Councillor Siddall nominated Councillor A M Lay and this was duly seconded and agreed.

The Council was advised a vote would be taken on the other nominations and following this the Chairperson declared that Councillor E L Stephens was appointed to the Joint Standards Committee.

RESOLVED

(i)                That in accordance with the Terms of Reference for the Joint Standards Committee the following eight Members are appointed to the Committee along with the two previously appointed Parish Councillors (non-voting) and the Independent Person (non-voting) in accordance with political balance;

·                  Councillor M G Bassenger

·                  Councillor S J Burwood

·                  Councillor A M Lay

·                  Councillor W J Laybourn

·                  Councillor M G Neall

·                  Councillor E L Stephens

·                  Councillor M E Thompson

·                  Councillor L L Wiffen

(ii)              That the Vice-Chairperson is not from the same Political Group as the Chairperson.