Agenda item

Questions on matters relating to the work of the Committee

Meeting of Standards Committee, Friday, 13th May, 2016 11.30 am (Item 13.)

Minutes:

Members’ Related Party Transactions Returns

A Member raised a question regarding the Declaration of Related Party Transactions and the return rate from Members.

The Town Clerk clarified that this process was overseen by the Chamberlain who reported to the Finance Committee on this matter. An initial letter requesting all Members to complete the returns was distributed in April each year and this was then followed by various reminders. Members were informed that, in 2014/15, just 4% of forms were not returned.

In response to a further question, the Comptroller and City Solicitor confirmed that this was only a matter for the Standards Committee to the extent that such transactions also constituted disclosable interests under the Code of Conduct; in which case they should also be included in the register of interests for the Member concerned.