Decision details

(a)       That, until such time as the position is clarified by further legislation or case law, the following convention will be used, in addition to the legislation, to interpret whether a councillor has satisfied the 6 month rule:

‘Attendance by a councillor to observe, listen to or speak at any meetings of the Cabinet (or any of its sub-committees), a committee, a sub-committee, a working group or task and finish group or member workshop (whether the public is entitled to attend some or all of the meeting) will be deemed sufficient to satisfy the requirement to attend meetings contained within s.85 of the Local government Act 1972 (“the 6 month rule”)’; and

(b)       That Council be recommended to expressly confirm the authority of the Monitoring Officer to decide whether a councillor has complied with the 6 month rule.