Present:-

Councillors Brook (Chairman), Fry, Hook and Owen.

Professor Forsythe, Mr Bull, Mrs Mayes and Mrs Saltmarsh.

Apologies:-

Alderman Turner and Councillors Colthorpe, Sir Simon Day and Parsons.

*1 Minutes

RESOLVED that the minutes of the former Standards Committee held on 25 June 2012 be signed as a correct record.

*2 Children s Services: Compliments, Representations and Complaints

The Committee received the latest summary report of statistics relating to compliments, representations and complaints received and handled by the service during 2011/12.

The Committee noted the changes in arrangements for the handling of feedback across all of the Council services, including children s and adult social care services, together with the revised corporate feedback system which reflected recent organisational changes within the Council and on consequential proposed changes to future reporting mechanisms.

It was MOVED by Councillor Brook, SECONDED by Professor Forsythe and

RESOLVED

(a) that the report be noted and the efforts of all those staff involved in achieving such creditable results be acknowledged;

(b) that Officers be asked to circulate to Members of this Committee examples of the possible content and layout of future reports.

*3 Adult Community Services Directorate: Compliments, Representations and Complaints

The Committee received the latest summary report of statistics relating to compliments, representations and complaints received and handled by the service during 2011/12.

It was MOVED by Mr Bull, SECONDED by Councillor Hook and

RESOLVED

(a) that the report be noted and, again, the efforts of all those staff involved in achieving such creditable results be acknowledged;

(b) that approval be given to the Report being published on the Customer Services' website and to it being submitted to the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

*4 Local Government Ombudsman: Annual Report for 2011/12 and Ombudsman s Annual Review Letter

The Committee considered the joint report of the Ombudsman Link Officer and County Solicitor (BSS/12/100) containing the annual report on the outcome of complaints lodged and/or determined during the 2011/12 municipal year and a commentary on the Ombudsman s Review Letter for the year ending 31 March 2012.

Members noted that none of the complaints received had resulted in any finding of maladministration against the County Council nor had there been any question of probity raised by a complainant. Further, the Ombudsman had not raised any significant areas of concern in relation to the handling of cases or response times by the Council.

Members also acknowledged the benefit for the Council of improved communication to and wider understanding of individuals and the community at large of the restrictions and pressures placed on the delivery of services in the current economic climate in, potentially, reducing the overall number of complaints.

It was MOVED by Councillor Brook, SECONDED by Professor Forsthye and

RESOLVED

(a) that the complaints made to the Local Government Ombudsman referred to the Council during 2011/12 and their outcomes be noted;

(b) that the Ombudsman s Annual Review of the Council s performance for the year ending 31 March 2012 be noted;

(c) that the complaint made to the YPLA referred to the Council during 2011/12 and its outcome be noted.

*5 Independent Member Monitoring

The Committee considered the report of the County Solicitor (CS/12/17 - text only | pdf CS/12/17) summarising the feedback from Independent Members on their attendance at meetings of the Council, Cabinet and Committees since the previous meeting to monitor compliance by Members and Officers with the Council s ethical governance framework.

The Committee were pleased to note that there had been no areas of significant concern or any indication of actions or behaviours that might be felt to have resulted in a potential breach of the Code and acknowledged that steps had been taken to address a number of practical and procedural matters in light of Independent Member s comments arising from both this and the previous monitoring report.

It was MOVED by Councillor Brook, SECONDED by Professor Forsythe and

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

*6 Local Determination of Complaints: Case Handling Information

The Committee received and noted the outcome of an Assessment Sub-Committee, as set out below, established in line with the former Standards Committee (England) Regulations 2008 and prior to the adoption by the Council of a new Code of Conduct under the Localism Act 2011 to review a complaint to the County Council s Standards Committee concerning the alleged conduct of a County Councillor

Case 02/12: Minutes of Assessment Sub-Committee, 25 June 2012: No action taken on the allegation.

*DENOTES DELEGATED MATTER WITH POWER TO ACT

The meeting started at 2.15pm and finished at 2.59pm.

The Minutes of this Committee are published on the County Council s Website at:-