Grub first, then ethics

A shame that the agenda for Tuesday's Review of Ethical Standards Sub Committee does not include the draft recommendations on conduct and sanctions. Time to introduce new measures (such as a published register?) to deal with councillors who are late with their council tax payments?

Too young to know?

Scratching away at the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust appeal for 11-year-olds to boost its Foundation Trust membership drive, I learn that the regulator, Monitor, has this to say in its Guide for Applicants:

"1. A minimum age to be appointed as a governor should be included in the constitution, being at least 16 at the closing date for nominations.
2. Monitor will not specify a minimum age for members. It is for the trust to justify the age.
However, it should be noted that it is not permissible, pursuant to the 2006 Act to
establish lesser categories of membership, such as associate membership."

I was interested to note that the Cornwall Partnership Foundation Trust requires its members to be at least 14-years-old. And I was relieved to discover that Monitor requires all governors to maintain a register of interests. But I'm afraid I'm still none the wiser about how or why membership affords greater influence over hospital management - or indeed anything else - than that enjoyed by any other citizen.

Tories on top

Last night's by-election results:

Newquay Town Council (North Ward):

Phil Ley ( Liberal Democrats) 388
Lisa Shuttlewood (Conservative Party) 444

Torpoint Town Council

John Robert Campbell (The Conservative Party) 351
Joanne Frances Hunt 150

Missing the bus

More than a year ago this blog drew attention to the threat facing rural bus routes. Later, while reporting the Star Chamber budget deliberations, I wrote:

"I have yet to find one single back-bench councillor who thinks it's a good idea to keep the £46,000 presence at the Royal Cornwall Show rather than make a similar size cut in rural bus subsidies - and yet this is precisely the choice recommended by the 10-member council Cabinet."

Tomorrow County Hall hosts a public meeting to debate the bus issues. Hear all about it on BBC Radio Cornwall's Breakfast programme tomorrow morning.

Show a little trust

Clearly those who think the yoof of today have nothing better to do than riot should have asked the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust for a breakdown of those who have already volunteered to become Foundation Trust members:

11 year olds - 3 members
12 year olds - 21 members
13 year olds - 10 members
14 year olds - 15 members
15 year olds - 26 members
16 year olds - 11 members

These numbers will of course change once the membership drive gets into top gear. The Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust assures me that all of these children were "recruited" in Cornwall, although there is no residential qualification for membership. Indeed, there are very few reasons why anyone could not become a member. "A person may not become or continue as a Member of the Trust if:

- he is under 11 years of age at the date of his application or invitation to become a Member (as the case may be);

- he has demonstrated aggressive or violent behaviour (such as verbal assault, physical assault, violence or harassment) at any NHS hospital, NHS premises or NHS establishment against any of the Applicant Trust's (or as the case may be) the Trust's employees or other persons who exercise functions for the purposes of the Trust whether or not in circumstances leading to his removal or exclusion from any NHS hospital, premises or establishment;

- or he has been dismissed (otherwise than by reason of redundancy or ill-health) from a position of employment with the Trust."

If you spot benefits of membership which I've so far been been unable to grasp, please feel free to comment...

From the legal department

" Cornwall Council has a procedure in place whereby the Monitoring Officer is notified if any councillor could be in breach of section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 due to non-payment of council tax. This enables the Monitoring Officer to advise the Member of his responsibilities under that section. In addition at the outset of any meeting of the Council where the business to be transacted comes within the provisions of section 106, general advice regarding Member responsibilities is provided in writing and verbally by the Chairman or the Monitoring Officer. The Council is confident, therefore, that no Member has committed an offence under this legislation."

Who's next?

Cornwall councillor Andrew Wallis confesses. Only 15 to go.