Agenda and draft minutes

Contact: Helen Rickman, Democratic Support Officer  Email: helen.rickman@plymouth.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Members will be asked to make any declarations of interest in respect of items on this Agenda.

Minutes:

The following declarations of interest were made in accordance with the code of conduct –

 

Name

Minute No. and

Subject

Reason

Interest

Gareth Pinwell

7 Pre Hearing

Summary

 

8 Complaint to be

considered from

Councillor Ricketts

against Councillor

Stevens

Parties involved in

the proceedings and

on the Sub-

Committee known

to him as a former

employee of

Plymouth City

Council and through

his work at the

Magistrates’ Court

Personal

Karen Gillard

7 Pre Hearing

Summary

 

8 Complaint to be

considered from

Councillor Ricketts

against Councillor

Stevens

Parties involved in

the proceedings and

on the Sub-

Committee known

to her as a former

Plymouth City

Councillor

Personal

Steve Pearce

7 Pre Hearing

Summary

 

8 Complaint to be

considered from

Councillor Ricketts

against Councillor

Stevens

Former colleague of

Susan Stratton, one

of the witnesses

scheduled to appear

 

Personal

Councillor Mrs

Stephens

7 Pre Hearing

Summary

 

8 Complaint to be

considered from

Councillor Ricketts

against Councillor

Stevens

Parties involved in

the proceedings and

on the Sub-

Committee known

to her as a current

Plymouth City

Councillor

Personal

Councillor Rennie

 

7 Pre Hearing

Summary

 

8 Complaint to be

considered from

Councillor Ricketts

against Councillor

Stevens

Parties involved in

the proceedings and

on the Sub-

Committee known

to him as a current

Plymouth City

Councillor.  He was also present at City

Council when the

incident took place

 

Corrine Farrell

7 Pre Hearing

Summary

 

8 Complaint to be

considered from

Councillor Ricketts

against Councillor

Stevens

Former work

colleague of

Councillor Ricketts

 

 

2.

CHAIR'S URGENT BUSINESS

To receive reports on business which, in the opinion of the Chair, should be brought forward for urgent consideration.

Minutes:

There were no items of Chair’s urgent business.

3.

TERMS OF REFERENCE pdf icon PDF 40 KB

For Members to receive the terms of reference for the Standards Hearings Sub Committee.

Minutes:

The terms of reference for the Standards Hearing Sub-Committee were noted.

4.

CODE OF CONDUCT pdf icon PDF 122 KB

For Members to receive a copy of the Members Code of Conduct.

Minutes:

The code of conduct for the Standards Hearing Sub-Committee was noted.

5.

HEARING PROCEDURE pdf icon PDF 54 KB

The Committee will receive a copy of the hearing procedure.

Minutes:

The agreed procedure for meetings of the Standards Hearing Sub-Committee were noted.

6.

PRE HEARING SUMMARY pdf icon PDF 55 KB

The Committee will consider the pre hearing summary.

Minutes:

The Sub-Committee was advised by the Deputy Monitoring Officer that the pre hearing summary did not form part of the evidence pack and its sole purpose was to highlight the salient issues in accordance with Standards for England guidance.

 

The subject member’s representative –

 

(a)

 

drew attention to the fact that at no time had Councillor Stevens ever said that the comments on the Tory Bear website were attributable to Councillor Ricketts and requested that this inference be struck out of the pre hearing summary;

 

(b)

 

suggested that key witnesses be excluded from the hearing until after they had presented evidence;

 

(c)

 

sought the Sub-Committee’s approval to the additional witnesses identified within the pre hearing summary.

 

With regard to (a) above, the Sub-Committee noted the subject member’s representations.

 

Agreed

 

(1)

 

that key witnesses should remain outside of the hearing until they had given their evidence;

 

(2)

 

the additional witnesses identified.

 

(Gareth Pinwell, Karen Gillard, Steve Pearce, Corrine Farrell, Councillors Rennie and Mrs. Stephens declared personal interests in respect of the above item).

7.

COMPLAINT TO BE CONSIDERED FROM COUNCILLOR RICKETTS AGAINST COUNCILLOR STEVENS

The Committee will consider a complaint from Councillor Ricketts against Councillor Stevens.

Minutes:

Agreed to hear the proceedings in part one (see minute supplement attached).

 

(Gareth Pinwell, Karen Gillard, Steve Pearce, Corrine Farrell, Councillors Rennie and Mrs. Stephens declared personal interests in respect of the above item).

8.

EXEMPT BUSINESS

To consider passing a resolution under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 to exclude the press and public from the meeting for the following item(s) of business on the grounds that it (they) involve(s) the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph(s)… of Part I of Schedule 12A of the Act, as amended by the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Minutes:

There were no items of exempt business.

WRITTEN DECISION pdf icon PDF 42 KB

A SUMMARY DECISION RELATING TO THE MEETING IS ATTACHED AS A SUPPLEMENT TO THESE MINUTES.