To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were submitted by Chris Bowring, Paul Swaddle and Roger Loader (Co-opted Member).

The Committee noted that Roger Loader had resigned from Barkham Parish Council due to ill health and, consequently, had stepped down from his role on the Committee as a Co-optee. In line with the agreed procedure, the Monitoring Officer would contact the Town and Parish Councils in order to seek nominations for a new Co-opted Member.

To confirm the Minutes of the Meeting held on 5 July 2018.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 5 July 2017 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive any declarations of interest.

There were no declarations of interest.

To answer any public questions.

A period of 30 minutes will be allowed for members of the public to ask questions submitted under notice.

The Council welcomes questions from members of the public about the work of this committee.

Subject to meeting certain timescales, questions can relate to general issues concerned with the work of the Committee or an item which is on the Agenda for this meeting.  For full details of the procedure for submitting questions please contact the Democratic Services Section on the numbers given below or go to www.wokingham.gov.uk/publicquestions

There were no public questions.

To answer any Member questions.

There were no Member questions.

To answer any questions from Parish / Town Councillors.

There were no Parish or Town Council questions.

To consider an update report on Code of Conduct complaints and associated issues.

The Committee considered a report, set out on Agenda Pages 9 to 12, which gave details of progress relating to Code of Conduct complaints.

The report stated that, since the previous meeting of the Committee, three new complaints had been received. Details of each complaint were appended to the report. The Committee was asked to consider any procedural or training issues arising out of the handling of these complaints.

During the ensuing discussion concern was expressed about the first complaint which had been made by a Borough Council Officer (on behalf of other officers) against a Member. As the Officer had left the Council (and no further evidence was submitted) no further action was taken.

The Committee requested that the Member/Officer Protocol be circulated to all Members after the May elections in order to remind Members about appropriate behaviours.

RESOLVED That:

1)     The Complaints and Feedback report be noted;

2)     The Member/Officer Protocol be circulated to all Members following the May 2018 elections.