| | (a) | a Referrals Sub Committee be established with a terms of reference as set out in the report as amended with the composition of the Sub Committee as follows:
Membership 3 (+1)
2 x Independent (including Chair)
1 x Councillor
(+1 Parish Councillor when parish council issue)
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| | (b) | a Review Sub Committee be established with a terms of reference as set out in the report and with the composition of the Sub Committee as follows:
Membership 3 (+1)
2 x Independent (including Chair)
1 x Councillor
(+1 Parish Councillor when parish council issue)
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| | (c) | Hearings Sub Committees be established as and when required for particular hearings, comprising members who have not been involved on the referral or review of the particular matter with the composition of the Hearings Sub Committees being as follows:
Membership 3 (+1)
2 x Independent (including Chair)
1 x Councillor
(+1 Parish Councillor when parish council issue)
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| | (d) | membership of the Referrals Sub Committee, Review Sub Committee and Hearings Sub Committee be selected on alphabetical rotation, subject to there being no duplication or conflict in accordance with the regulations;
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| | (e) | the Monitoring Officer be instructed to notify the member of receipt of a complaint and provide a written summary of the allegation at the same time as acknowledging receipt of the allegation to the person making the allegation and no later than sending the agenda for the meeting of the Referrals Sub-Committee to members of that sub-committee, unless after consultation with the Chairman of the Standards Committee he/she considers it appropriate to defer notification in order to enable a proper investigation to take place, in which case notification should be made as soon as the reasons for the deferral no longer apply.
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| | (f) | the local protocol as set out in Appendix Three to this report authorising the Monitoring Officer to seek local resolution in appropriate cases, be adopted subject to the following amendment:
Receipt of Allegations (paragraph 3) amended to read:
Complaints shall only be entertained where the identity of the complainant is identified, but the Monitoring Officer is authorised to maintain the confidentiality of the identity of the complainant where and for so long as in his/her opinion that would be in the public interest.
In addition, the Monitoring Officer be requested to report to the Standards Committee at its next meeting upon the arrangements she has established in this respect, noting that the Standards Committee wishes to be advised of all anonymous complaints received.
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| | (g) | it be a policy decision that anonymous complaints should not be entertained, but that the Monitoring Officer be authorised to keep the identity of the complainant confidential where she is of the opinion that this is in the public interest.
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| | (h) | the Monitoring Officer be instructed as set out in the draft protocol attached to the report, where practicable, to obtain and inform the Referrals Sub-Committee of any publicly available information which would facilitate their task of determining whether a complaint merits investigation.
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| | (i) | the functions of determining whether to accept the Monitoring Officer's finding of no breach, to go to a local hearing, or to refer the matter to a Case Tribunal be delegated to a Hearings Sub-Committee.
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| | (j) | the Monitoring Officer be instructed to arrange appropriate publicity in accordance with the Regulations and Guidance, such publicity to be determined by the Standards Committee and reported to the next meeting for consideration.
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| | (k) | it be noted that, having now received Guidance on the new procedures from the Standards Board, arrangements are in hand to organise a training session for members of the Standards Committee in June and further details will be submitted to that meeting on the arrangements for establishing monthly Referrals Sub Committees, proposals for publicity for the new arrangements in accordance with (j) above and a suggested complaints form for use by complainants.
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| | (l) | a standing item be included on the agenda for the Standards Committee setting out a summary of those cases referred to the Referrals Committee.
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| | (m) | in accordance with the request of the Rural Liaison Committee, the Council be requested to increase Parish Councillor representation on the Standards Committee by one further member making a total of 3;
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| | (n) | subject to Council approval of (m) above, it be noted that the Rural Liaison Committee has nominated Parish Councillor Buckwell to fill this additional place.
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