Agenda

To receive any apologies for absence.

To approve the minutes from the previous meeting.

To receive and note any declarations of interests in respect of any matters included on the agenda for consideration at this meeting.

(The other registrable interests of Councillors of Somerset Council, arising from membership of City, Town or Parish Councils and other Local Authorities will automatically be recorded in the minutes: City, Town & Parish Twin Hatters - Somerset Councillors 2023 )

The Chair to advise the Committee of any items on which members of the public have requested to speak and advise those members of the public present of the details of the Council’s public participation scheme.

For those members of the public who have submitted any questions or statements, please note, a three minute time limit applies to each speaker and you will be asked to speak before Councillors debate the issue.

We are now live webcasting most of our committee meetings and you are welcome to view and listen to the discussion. The link to each webcast will be available on the meeting webpage, please see details under ‘click here to join online meeting’.

a)    Ongoing Review of complaints against Councillors procedures – by Priority Group 1

b)    To consider whether to include Co-opted Member on the Complaints Hearings – by Priority 1.  The Chair will suggest the timescale of this action be reviewed possibly summer 2025

c)     To agree the questionnaire from complainants against Councillors – Priority Group 1

d)    Review Code of Conduct Training and support package for Parish Councils – by Priority Group 2

e)    SALC to be involved with Standards Committee – Scott Wooldridge

To provide a report on the gifts and hospitality received by members during the period March 2024 to August 2024.

PLEASE NOTE: Although the main report for this item not confidential, supporting appendices available to Members contain exempt information and are therefore marked confidential – not for publication.  At any point if Members wish to discuss information within this appendix then the Council will be asked to agree the following resolution to exclude the press and public: 

Exclusion of the Press and Public

To consider passing a resolution having been duly proposed and seconded under Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 to exclude the press and public from the meeting, on the basis that if they were present during the business to be transacted there would be a likelihood of disclosure of exempt information, within the meaning of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972:

Reason: Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).