Meeting documents

SCC County Council
Wednesday, 23rd February, 2022 10.00 am

Meeting of Annual Budget Meeting, County Council, Wednesday 23rd February 2022 10.00 am (Item 26.)

To consider the report and recommendations for:

· Proposed scale of fee and charges for May 2022 Elections.

· Proposed Contract Procurement Procedures and Standing Orders.

· Proposed Members Code of Conduct.

Decision:

The Council RESOLVED to:

Regarding the May 2022 elections:

Approve the scale of fees and charges for the elections on 5 May 2022 as set out in Appendix 1 and to delegate authority to the Returning Officer to agree any subsequent variations.

Regarding the Contract Procedure Rules and Standing Order:

Approve the revised Contract Procedure Rules and Standing Orders as set out in Appendix 2; including the updated approach to assessing the Most Economically Advantageous Tender of 60% price, 30% quality and 10% social value.

Regarding the proposed revised Members Code of Conduct

Agree the adoption of the revised Members Code of Conduct as set out in Appendix 3 for implementation from 6 May 2022 following the elections;

Agree the that revised Code of Conduct is incorporated into the Council’s Constitution from 6 May 2022;

Authorise the Monitoring Officer to develop and promote a Member Development programme to support the implementation of the revised Code of Conduct;

Agree that the revised Code of Conduct is promoted with Somerset Association of Local Councils (SALC) for adoption by City, Town and Parish Councils for implementation from 6 May 2022;

Endorse the Monitoring Officer to review and make any appropriate amendments to the Council’s complaints procedures for handling allegations about potential breaches of the Members Code of Conduct with reference to the LGA Guidance.

Regarding the proposed additional meeting of the County Council

Agree to hold a meeting of the County Council on Wednesday 27 April 2022 to approve the minutes of Committee meetings and other procedural matters before the elections are held in May 2022.

Minutes:

This report set out proposals for decisions on appointments and constitutional matters, the proposed scale of fees and charges for the May 2022 elections, proposals relating to revised Contract Procedure Rules and Standing Orders and a proposed revised Members Code of Conduct.

The Government has set out its proposals for the election of 110 councillors to Somerset County Council to be held on 5 May 2022 and to serve a five-year term of office. Subject to the Government’s approval of its Structural Changes Order (expected in early March 2022), for 2022/23 the 110 councillors will have responsibility for all current County Council services and oversee the local government reorganisation to establish a single unitary council on 1 April 2023. From 1 April 2023, the 110 councillors of the new Somerset Council will assume responsibility for all local government functions for Somerset, including those of the current four district councils. District Councils will remain until 31 March 2023 and the councillors serving those councils will continue in their roles until that date.

The Contract Procedure Rules and Standing Orders (the Rules) are made under Section 135 of the Local Government Act. Their purpose is to provide a framework for the making of contracts for the supply of goods or materials or for the execution of works that ensures Somerset County Council’s approach complies with the relevant national legislation, in particular the Public Contract Regulations 2015. The Rules also help ensure the provision for securing competition in the procurement process.

The opportunity has been taken to review the County Council’s Members Code of Conduct with the benefit of the LGA’s Model Code as part of the Local Government Reorganisation work in collaboration with the Monitoring Officers of the four district councils. The aim has been to recommend a Members Code of Conduct to come into effect from 6 May 2022 following the elections and to support the transition towards the new Somerset Council. The role of councillor in all tiers of local government is a vital part of our country’s system of democracy. In voting for a local councillor, the public is imbuing that person and position with their trust. As such, it is important that councillors can be held accountable and all adopt the behaviours and responsibilities associated with the role. The conduct of an individual councillor affects the reputation of all councillors.

All five Somerset Monitoring Officers were last year investigating the possibility of adopting the LGA Model Code of Conduct in their councils but efforts to take a consistent approach across Somerset, together with the decision on Local Government Reorganisation, meant that the focus moved to the code of conduct for the transitional council and new unitary. It is recommended that a new code is in place for the elections in May 2022 and training on that Code can then form part of the member induction process. In the circumstances, a review has been conducted to establish the position in other Councils and whether they are choosing to move to the LGA Code.

There was a suggestion that the proposed final meeting of the County Council was in Shire Hall and that number kept to a minimum as there would be no issues to debate as its purpose was to approve minutes of Committee meetings and other procedural matters.

Cllr William Wallace, seconded by Cllr Tessa Munt, moved and the Council RESOLVED to: