Issue - meetings

To consider the Member motion relating to the Nolan Principles as proposed by Councillor Pavitt.

To consider the Member motion relating to the Nolan Principles as proposed by Councillor Pavitt.

Councillor Pavitt presented his motion on the Nolan Principles. He proposed as follows:

Whereas it is noted that there has been some ambiguity over institutional and personal commitment to the Nolan principles as a result of conflation with other matters,

We, the undersigned, note that the Nolan Principles underpin all actions of this Council and our actions, in the public interest, as individuals. This Council reaffirms its commitment to the seven Nolan Principles of Public Life - Selflessness, Integrity, Objectivity, Accountability, Openness, Honesty and Leadership.

He said the motion was simple and clear, and urged members to support this proposal rather than the amendment.

Councillor Tayler seconded the motion and said he was doing so to build respect and trust between groups and to reaffirm Council’s commitment to the Nolan principles. He said the previous motion, considered at Council on 8 December, that had been rejected at Council, which some had purported was a rejection of the Nolan Principles, had been rejected due to the crux of the motion itself, which related to a specific matter.

Councillor Khan said he was surprised by the “Damascene Conversion” in the Members support for the Nolan Principles.

Councillor Pavitt raised a point of personal clarification; he said he had not voted against the Nolan Principles.

Councillor Khan asked Members to show integrity and vote for the amendment.

Councillor Isham said it was strange to reaffirm principles to which all councillors were duty bound; all members were in support of the Nolan Principles.

Councillor Asker said this situation could have been avoided if the previous motion’s clauses had been taken as a separate vote and this guidance should have been provided to the Chair.

Councillor Sell had given notice of an amendment and proposed as follows:

 Whereas it is noted that there has been some ambiguity over institutional and personal commitment to the Nolan principles as a result of conflation with other matters.

We, the undersigned, note that the Nolan Principles underpin all actions of this Council and our actions, in the public interest, as individuals.

This Council therefore reaffirms its commitment to the seven Nolan Principles of Public Life – Selflessness, Integrity, Objectivity, Accountability, Openness, Honesty and Leadership.

We therefore acknowledge and recognise our obligations in terms of these principles to hold ourselves to full and open scrutiny, and to stand up to and report all actions or omissions by our colleagues and elements of our council that appear reasonably to contradict these principles.

Councillor Sell said he was looking to build a consensus with his amendment, and it was by no means opportunistic.

Councillor Dean seconded the amendment.

Councillor Hargreaves asked members to vote down the amendment. He said it was looking to amend the Code of Conduct to incorporate the Principles. This had been discussed in 2017 by the Standards Committee and they had decided against incorporating the principles, as they lacked definition and could lead to a political mechanism which could be used against Members in a potentially vexatious way.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 16