Issue - meetings

The Scrutiny Research Officer presented the report and asked Committee to consider the content of the draft Use of Resources Policy, as presented, and recommend adoption of the document by Council, as an appendix to the Members’ Code of Conduct.

The draft Policy had already been extensively considered at a recent informal meeting of the Standards and Personnel Appeals Committee and the suggested changes made by Members at that meeting had now been incorporated into the final draft document, appended to the report.

Members briefly discussed the ongoing issue of Members wearing Council branded clothing during their attendance at events or outside locations and the requirement for any items to be returned to the Council after such use.  Concerns were raised that the return of such items was often impracticable and unhygienic (i.e. protective footwear) and that Members often attended multiple events on a weekly basis and preferred to keep such items in their possession for ease of use.

RESOLVED that

a)    the Service Manager for Scrutiny and Democratic Services, in conjunction with the Service Manager for Risk and Emergency Planning, be requested to suitably amend the wording of Part 14 of the draft Use of Resources Policy to enable Members, in certain circumstances, to keep possession of Council branded items of clothing;

b)    as a result of (a) above and once amendments have been made to Part 14 of the Use of Resources Policy, the draft document be electronically circulated to Committee Members for consideration and then re-submitted to the next Standards and Personnel Appeals Committee in March 2021, for final sign off and subsequent recommendation to Council.