Issue - meetings

(a)       That the voluntary register set up in 1997 be discontinued;

(b)       That the recommendation of the Standards Committee made at its meeting on 8 April 2013, to discontinue the locally adopted requirement to voluntarily register membership of any organisation not open to the public without formal membership be approved; and

(c)       That the Monitoring Officer issues an advice note about what is covered by the requirement in the statutory code with respect to registration of membership of societies and bodies.

The Head of Legal and Democratic Services introduced a report to propose discontinuing the locally adopted requirement to voluntarily register membership of any organisation not open to the public without formal membership.  He provided background information and advised that the Council currently had two requirements to register.  Compliance with the statutory code of conduct was mandatory, well publicised, and had a statutorily imposed enforcement regime.  The local register was voluntary and not a public document. 

In response to the queries and observations raised by Members the Head of Legal and Democratic Services explained that the mandatory register superseded the voluntary register in all important aspects.  He also confirmed that standards would not be lowered through the abolition of the voluntary register.   He recommended that an advice note be sent to Members to clarify what was covered by the requirement in the statutory code with respect to registration of membership of societies and bodies.

Councillor R.C. Bithell commented on democratic protocol and procedures and proposed that the item be referred to the Constitution Committee for further consideration before submission to County Council.  Councillor P.G. Heesom seconded the proposal.

The Head of Legal and Democratic Services advised that the matter had been considered by the Standards Committee at a meeting held on 8 April 2013, and that the Committee had recommended to Council that the voluntary register  be discontinued. 

Councillor A.P. Shotton said he was satisfied that the matter had been addressed by the Standards Committee and commented that there was unnecessary duplication in maintaining the two registers.

Councillor A. Aldridge said the clarification provided by the Head of Legal and Democratic Services outlined to Members that they should declare anything which could be in conflict with their role as Members of the Council.  He reminded Members of the significant role of the Standards Committee.

Councillor M. Peers asked if any discrepancies existed between the mandatory and voluntary registers and suggested that Members could list their interests and submit them to the Head of Legal and Democratic Services for advice. 

During discussion Councillors A.M. Halford, H.J. McGuill and R.K. Jones expressed their views in support of discontinuing the register as it had become surplus to requirements.

Councillor H.G. Roberts proposed that the County Council support the recommendations outlined in the report and this was seconded.

The Chairman asked Members to vote on the proposal put forward by Councillor R.C. Bithell.  When put to the vote the proposal was lost.

RESOLVED:

 (a)      That the voluntary register set up in 1997 be discontinued;

(b)       That the recommendation of the Standards Committee made at its meeting on 8 April 2013, to discontinue the locally adopted requirement to voluntarily register membership of any organisation not open to the public without formal membership be approved; and

(c)       That the Monitoring Officer issues an advice note about what is covered by the requirement in the statutory code with respect to registration of membership of societies and bodies.