Decision details
Approval of Standards Bulletin
Decision Maker: Chief Executive Officer
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Is Key decision?: No
Is subject to call in?: No
Decision:
Having considered the report to the informal
meeting of Standards Committee Members held on 17 September 2021,
the views of the Committee Members and Independent Person for
Standards expressed at that informal meeting, and the revised
Standards Bulletin presented to the Chief Executive Officer since
that informal meeting taking into account those views, and all
relevant information, the Chief Executive Officer agreed that the
Standards Bulletin be approved for circulation.
By whom: Richard Flinton, Chief Executive Officer, under his
emergency delegated powers and after consultation with the Members
of the Standards Committee and the Independent Person for
Standards
PLEASE NOTE that as a non-executive function, this decision is not
open to call in.
Reasons for the decision:
Under his delegated decision making powers in
the Officers’ Delegation Scheme in the Council’s
Constitution, the Chief Executive Officer has power, in cases of
emergency, to take any decision which could be taken by the
Council, the Executive or a committee.
Following on from the expiry of the Local Authorities and Police
and Crime Panels (Coronavirus) (Flexibility of Local Authority and
Police and Crime Panel Meetings) (England and Wales) Regulations
2020 (“the 2020 Regulations”), which allowed for
committee meetings to be held remotely, the County Council resolved
at its meeting on 5 May 2021 that, for the present time, in light
of the continuing Covid-19 pandemic circumstances, remote
live-broadcast committee meetings should continue, as informal
meetings of the committee Members, with any formal decisions
required being taken by the Chief Executive Officer under his
emergency decision making powers and after consultation with other
Officers and Members as appropriate and after taking into account
any views of the relevant Committee Members and all relevant
information. This approach is being kept under review and will be
reviewed again by full Council at its November 2021 meeting.
The Chief Executive Officer has taken all relevant information into
account in exercising his emergency delegated powers in this
matter, including considering the views of the Standards Committee
Members and Independent Person for Standards expressed at that
informal meeting, and considering the revised Standards Bulletin
presented to him since that informal meeting taking into account
those views; and has approved the revised Standards Bulletin for
circulation to keep Members and Officers informed of key
developments in the standards regime. Circulation of the Standards
Bulletin will also help to maintain the Council’s statutory
duty to promote and maintain high standards of conduct.
Alternative options considered:
N/A.
Publication date: 25/10/2021
Date of decision: 25/10/2021