Decision details

(a)       That the guidelines in paragraph 1.03 the report be amended to reflect that:

·           Independent members of the Committee wishing to participate be provided with meeting dates and contact details to enable them to notify Clerks in advance of visits;

·           a rota of visits is not to be published;

·           that the member should advise the Clerk to the council of his/her intention to visit a specific meeting;

·           that each attendee introduces themselves to the Clerk when they arrive at the meeting and then takes a seat in the public gallery;

·           that the attendee should not speak at the meeting unless invited to do so, and should only explain the nature and purpose of the programme of visits;

·           that the attendee should decline to give specific advice on matters under the code such as declaring interests, and should refer any such requests to the Clerk, Monitoring Officer or Deputy Monitoring Officer instead;

·           Verbal feedback to be reported to the Committee to enable comments to be approved before submitting to Town and Community Councils; and

(b)       That the Committee receive a report from officers on the financial implications of making the visits an official duty for the purposes of co-opted member allowances.