The Standards Sub-committee met to consider requests from 33 Councillors for dispensations from rules that prevent them from speaking or voting on matters in which they have a personal interest. The Sub-committee voted to grant all of the dispensations.

Dispensations

The Sub-committee considered a report on requests from Councillors for dispensations from the requirement to declare interests in matters in which they have a personal interest.

The report explained that:

Members may be given a dispensation either to speak but not vote, or to speak and vote, on several grounds, including that it would be in the interests of local people to allow a dispensation, or even that it is simply “appropriate to grant a dispensation”.

— Dispensations - Appointment to Outside Bodies

The Sub-committee voted to grant all of the dispensations. The dispensations allow each of the Councillors to remain in meetings and to vote on matters in which they have an interest because they are a member of the outside body being discussed.

The Sub-committee also voted to grant the Monitoring Officer¹ the ability to grant similar requests without them needing to be brought to a future meeting.