April 2023 Minutes
Belchford and Fulletby Parish Council
Minutes from Parish Council Meeting held on Wednesday 19th April 2023 held at Belchford Church.
Present in person: Councillors: P Morris (PM), J Smith (JS), I Goodall (IG), J Newby (JN), N Brigginshaw (NB), K Skalka (KS) Also present clerk Mrs K M Elliott.
There was no public forum.
Parish Council meeting commenced at 6.00 pm
1. Chairman’s remarks, Apologies for absence and reasons given – P Thompson (holiday) and M Brown (Work).
2. Declaration of interests and requests for dispensations - To receive declarations of interest in accordance with the Localism Act 2011 and to consider granting dispensation(s), as per written requests received by the proper officer, to councillors under section 22 of the Act. There were none.
3. Contravention of Standing Orders and Code of Conduct at meeting held on Thursday 16th March 2023.
This meeting has been called to discuss item 10. b on the agenda dated 16th March 2023
10.To consider rights of way & Footpaths
b. Alleged footpath between the Ford on Ings Lane and public footpath no., 27
Councillor M Brown had a DPI for item 10. b and declared this at the start of the meeting, however when item 10. b was due to be discussed Cllr Brown refused to leave the room. This is a contravention of the parish councils standing orders and Code of Conduct.
JS started the discussion advising the members present that he had taken advice personally from ELDC Monitoring Officer and also his solicitor plus the clerk had sought advice from LALC and one of her clerk colleagues. The details of the matter were discussed between councillors and the clerk also read a statement provided by Cllr P Thompson in his absence. The council Standing Orders and Code of Conduct clearly state that a member with a DPI should leave the room in order for the item to be discussed and this did not happen. What sanctions or powers does the parish council have in this situation? Who can this matter to be reported to? This situation should not happen again and at the next parish council meeting copies of the standing orders, financial regulations and code of conduct will be provided to each councillor in paper form.
The parish council in quorum resolved that councillors should write to the monitoring officer at ELDC and that the parish council should also write. Rules were contravened and as a democratic organisation there should be a cohesive response from the parish council and councillors. Proposed PM and seconded NB, voted and resolved unanimously.
There being no further business the Meeting closed at 6.31 pm.