Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Melanie Davis and Councillor Peter Wilkinson with Councillor David Jeffels attending as substitute.

Apologies were received from Independent Persons Gill Baker, Jamie Nelson and Richinda Taylor.

Resolved

The minutes of the meeting held on 20 June 2025 were agreed and signed as a correct record.

Councillor Nigel Knapton raised a non-pecuniary interest in relation to Minute 152 as he was formerly a member of Kirby Grindalythe and Duggleby Parish Council and had also clerked a parish council meeting.

Members of the public may ask questions or make statements at this meeting if they have given notice and provided the text to Christine Phillipson christine.phillipson@northyorks.gov.uk no later than midday on Friday 12 September 2025, three working days before the meeting takes place. Each speaker should limit themselves to three minutes on any item. 

If you are exercising your right to speak at this meeting, but do not wish to be recorded, please inform the Chair who will instruct those taking a recording to cease whilst you speak.

There were none.

Considered

The report of the Assistant Chief Executive Legal and Democratic Services and Monitoring Officer to update Members on the development of the national ethical framework under the Localism Act 2011.

Members receive a report at each Standards and Governance Committee meeting setting out any recent developments in the national ethical framework.

At the meeting held on 6 January 2025, Members considered the Government consultation on strengthening the standards regime and the associated Local Government Association (LGA) questionnaire and determined the Council’s response to each. It was reported that there was no substantive update on the consultation. Members would be kept informed of any developments.

It was reported that the Committee on Standards in Public Life held a conference in June on ‘the Nolan principles at 30’ to mark the 30^th anniversary of the Nolan Principles.

The results of the LGA’s ‘Debate not Hate’ survey were also included in the report.

An update was provided on the work of the NYC member liaison group on councillor safety, next due to meet on 25 September.

In response to a query regarding the results of the LGA’s ‘Debate not Hate’ survey, the Assistant Director Legal and Deputy Monitoring Officer clarified that the survey was conducted nationwide and that issues specific to the North Yorkshire area would be picked up via the NYC member liaison group on councillor safety’s survey. One Member commented that the results of the member safety survey would be useful to view alongside the national LGA survey.

Resolved

To note the contents of the report.

Considered

A report of the Assistant Chief Executive Legal and Democratic Services and Monitoring Officer presenting an update on standards complaints received.

The Assistant Chief Executive Legal and Democratic Services and Monitoring Officer reported that during the period 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024, the Council received 174 complaints that members may have breached the relevant authority’s code of conduct for Members.

During the period 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025, a further 133 complaints had been received.

Between 1 April 2025 and 29 August 2025, a further 39 complaints had been received.

A detailed breakdown of the complaints statistics for the two full municipal years were attached at Appendix 1.

The Assistant Director Legal and Deputy Monitoring Officer explained that since 29 August 2025, a number of additional complaints had been made, two of which involved live investigations.

In response to a question from a Member about resource capacity for responding to complaints, it was explained that whilst the number of complaints since Vesting Day created a heavy workload for officers, the current system in place for dealing with standards complaints was effective and efficient. The average time taken to process complaints was now significantly reduced thanks to the introduction of a pre-assessment stage for complaints to first be confirmed by the Monitoring Officer or Deputy Monitoring Officer. Members were assured that the situation would be kept under review.

Resolved

That the Committee notes the current position on standards complaints received.

Considered

A report of the Assistant Chief Executive Legal and Democratic Services and Monitoring Officer which provided an update on the consultation feedback of the Kirby Grindalythe and Duggleby Community Governance Review (CGR). The Committee were asked to support and agree the recommendations that would be taken to Full Council for approval.

The Principal Democratic Services Officer introduced the report which would be the last report taken to the Committee on the Kirby Grindalythe and Duggleby CGR. She explained that three stages of public consultation had taken place between December 2024 and August 2025.

The feedback from the third consultation, which was conducted between 31 July 2025 and 29 August 2025, was that it would be practical to dissolve the parish council in its current format and to have two community meeting-based models instead. The two newly created parish areas should be called Duggleby parish and Kirby Grindalythe parish.

There was also support for including the 6 properties in Sheepwalk Lane within the Luttons parish boundary. Members were provided with a map identifying the properties to be included in Luttons parish.

Arrangements to change the bank account name and the signing authority on the account would also need to be made. As there will be more than one parish meeting covering the former parish council area, the financial balances and liabilities of the abolished parish council will be divided proportionally based on the population of the areas transferred to each newly created parish.

It was confirmed that the Division Member, Councillor Janet Sanderson was in agreement with the final recommendation.

Members thanked officers for their involvement in the CGR, and it was noted that the final proposal would vastly improve the governance of each parish.  

It was moved by Councillor David Ireton and seconded by Councillor Nick Brown that the Committee approves the below recommendations.

Resolved (unanimously)

       i.         The dissolving of Kirby Grindalythe and Duggleby Parish Council and replacing it with two parish meetings named Kirby Grindalythe Parish Meeting and Duggleby Parish Meeting.

     ii.         The inclusion of the properties in Sheepwalk Lane (6) into Luttons Parish.

    iii.         Arrangements to be made to change the bank account name and the signing authority on the account.

Considered

A report of the Assistant Chief Executive Legal and Democratic Services and Monitoring Officer presenting an update on temporary appointments to parish and town councils made under his delegated powers.

The Principal Democratic Services Officer explained that where parish and town councils become inquorate and cannot meet or conduct any business, a temporary appointment is made under Section 91(1) of the Local Government Act 1972 so that business can continue, and new members can be co-opted onto the parish or town council.

On 6 September 2024, the Committee delegated the power to make temporary appointments to the Assistant Chief Executive Legal and Democratic Services and Monitoring Officer, in order to streamline the process.

The report outlined that one temporary appointment had been made since the previous Standards and Governance Committee meeting of 20 June 2025, which was to appoint Councillor Angus Thompson, divisional representative for North Richmondshire, to North Cowton Parish Council.

It was reported that North Cowton Parish Council had since been successful in co-opting new members onto the parish council, and that Councillor Angus Thompson had subsequently resigned from the parish council.

Resolved

That Members note the report.

Considered

Considered The Assistant Chief Executive Legal and Democratic Services and Monitoring Officer’s report attaching a draft Standards Bulletin.

The Standards Bulletin is produced periodically and circulated to Members and relevant officers of the Council to keep them informed of key developments in the standards regime. Members previously agreed that the Bulletin should be circulated to parish and town councils in the North Yorkshire area.

The Bulletin was attached at Appendix 1 to the report.

Members emphasised the importance of all parish and town councillors receiving a copy of the Standards Bulletin, and that clerks should be prompted to pass the Bulletin onto their councillors. The possibility of contacting parish and town councillors via individual councillor email addresses was also commented on.

Resolved

That the Bulletin be updated as necessary following the outcome of the Committee’s meeting and approved for circulation.

Considered A report of the Assistant Chief Executive Legal and Democratic Services and Monitoring Officer presenting the Standards Training Plan for Members for 2025/26.

A report is brought to each ordinary meeting of the Committee for it to consider the standards training needs of Members of the Council and how best to meet them through the Standards Training Plan.

The Standards Training Plan was attached at Appendix 1 of the report.

Resolved

That Members consider the Standards Training Plan for Members for 2025/26 and determine whether any amendments are required.

Considered

The Assistant Chief Executive Legal and Democratic Services and Monitoring Officer’s report on the Committee’s Work Programme for 2025/26.

The Committee previously agreed it would be helpful for the Committee to implement a forward Work Programme of its work, as far as this can be anticipated.

The Programme is a standing item on each scheduled ordinary meeting of the Committee and keeps track of matters that the Committee wishes to review.

A revised Work programme was attached at Appendix 1.

Resolved

That Members consider and review its Work Programme at Appendix 1.

To agree a date for an additional Standards and Governance Meeting in early February 2026 to review the stage 1 results and proposals for the stage 2 consultation on the 2025/2026 Community Governance Reviews.

Members agreed that an additional Standards and Governance Committee meeting in early February 2026 be convened to review the stage 1 consultation results and proposals for the stage 2 consultation on the 2025/26 Community Governance Reviews.

The next Scheduled meeting of the Committee is 13 March 2026.

The next scheduled meeting of the Committee is 13 March 2026.