Issue - meetings

To receive any questions or petitions.

One public question has been received in advance of the deadline and a written response has been provided - Annex A.

Notes:

1.  The deadline for Member’s questions is 12.00pm four working days before the meeting (30 May 2023).

2.  The deadline for public questions is seven days before the meeting (29 May 2023).

3.  The deadline for petitions was 14 days before the meeting, and no petitions have been received.

There were no Members' questions or petitions.

One public question was received from Brian Edmonds. The question and response were published in the agenda.

The following supplementary question was asked by Brian Edmonds and the response can be found below:

He noted that the Council’s Gifts and Hospitality Register was sparsely populated in terms of hospitality offered, he asked whether consideration had been given to positive feedback of nil return. The Director of Law and Governance acknowledged that the return was low for both Members and officers, confirmation of a nil return from councils would be unusual. He noted that the Council carried out a communications exercise annually ensuring that both Members and officers were regularly reminded of their obligations regarding updating their register of interests and declaring gifts and hospitality. The Committee would be receiving a report later in the year concerning Members’ and officers’ declarations of gifts and hospitality, and he noted that the member of the public’s suggestion would be noted and considered at that time.

Actions/further information to be provided:

1.    A6/23 - The Director of Law and Governance will note the member of the public’s suggestion of consideration to be given to positive feedback of nil return, as part of the report to be received later in the year concerning Members’ and officers’ declarations of gifts and hospitality.