Item 2

Glasgow City Council 6th September 2012

Garscadden/ Area Committee

Report by the Executive Director of Corporate Services

Contact: Linda Hendry Ext: 39886

Co-option of Community Representatives

Purpose of Report:

To inform the committee of requirements in relation to the co-option of members to local authority committees and to provide details of nominations to date.

Recommendations:

The committee is asked to

(a) note

(i) the requirements for co-opted members of local authority committees, including compliance with the Councillors’ Code of Conduct;

(ii) the current position in relation to nominations from community councils and local organisations within areas of the ward with no active community councils;

(iii) that regular updates on the co-option process will be provided; and

(b) approve the nominations, as detailed in paragraph 4.2, from

Knightswood Community Council Community Council Heart of Ltd. Peterson Park Residents Association

Ward No(s): 13 Citywide:

Local member(s) advised: Yes No Consulted: Yes No Background

1.1 At its previous meeting, the committee agreed that community representation should be drawn from the active community councils in the area and from other representative groups, namely,

Knightswood Community Council Yoker Community Council Heart of Scotstoun Ltd. Peterson Park Residents Association

Each active community council and both Heart of Scotstoun Ltd. and Peterson Park Residents Association has been invited to nominate a representative to be co opted onto this committee.

1.2 Co-opted members of area committees are required to satisfy conditions laid down by the Local Government () Act 1973, sections 31 and 59, which specifically excludes the following from membership of local authority committees:-

(a) persons employed by the Local Authority or in partnership with someone so employed;

(b) persons currently sequestrated or bankrupt unless caused by misfortune and not misconduct;

(c) within the last 5 years, any person who has served a prison sentence of more than 3 months without having had the option of a fine; or

(d) persons convicted in terms of Part 3 of the Representation of the People Act 1949 (corrupt or improper practices during election proceedings).

2 Councillors’ Code of Conduct

2.1 The Ethical Standards in Public Life etc (Scotland) Act 2000 introduced a new ethical framework for public life in Scotland. As part of this framework, the Standards Commission for Scotland developed a Code of Conduct for Councillors (and associated guidance notes) which came into effect on 1st May 2003.

2.2 Furthermore, the Standards Commission for Scotland also issued guidance to local authorities stating that co-opted members are expected to apply the same high standards of conduct as elected members of the Council. To this end, the Commission advised that co-opted members should comply with the Code of Conduct and this should be a condition of their appointment.

3. Co-option process

3.1 The relevant community councils in the /Scotstounhill ward have been requested to nominate representatives (and substitutes) for co-option onto this committee. Where such nominations have been received, the individuals have been advised of the requirements outlined above and asked to sign and return a declaration confirming that the restrictions detailed at 1.2 of this report do not apply and that they will comply with the Councillors Code of Conduct and associated guidance notes.

3.2 Thereafter, the nominated individuals will require to be formally co-opted at a meeting of the area committee.

4. Current position

4.1 To date, two community councils have nominated individuals to take a position on this committee, they are:

Community Council Nomination Substitute Knightswood John McPherson Bill Preston Yoker Danny Trainer Alex Greenhorn

Nominations have also been received from Heart of Scotstoun Ltd.: Paul Gray and Peterson Park Residents Association: Rita Goodwin

4.2 All representatives have complied with the co-option requirements and can be formally co-opted at the meeting on 6th September 2012.

5. Council Strategic Plan Implications

Economic Impact: None

Sustainability: None

Financial: None

Legal: None

Personnel: None

Sustainable None Procurement and Article 19:

6. Recommendations.

6.1 The committee is requested to

(a) note

(i) the requirements for co-opted members of local authority committees, including compliance with the Councillors’ Code of Conduct;

(ii) the current position in relation to nominations from community councils;

(iii) that regular updates on the co-option process will be provided; and

(b) approve the nominations, as detailed in paragraph 4.2, from Knightswood and Yoker Community Councils, Heart of Scotstoun Ltd. and Peterson Park Residents Association.