Council Constitution

Part 2 - Articles of the Constitution

Article 12 - Standards Committee

12.1 Standards Committee

The Council will appoint a Standards Committee.

12.2 Composition

1. Membership: The Standards Committee will be appointed by the Council and comprised of at least:-
    
   • Two councillors (one of whom may be an Executive Member), but neither of whom shall participate in any matters referred to the Committee by the Standards Board for England, for local determination;
   • One person who is not a Councillor or an Officer of the Council or any other body having Standards Committee (an independent member);
   •  One Member of a Parish Council wholly or mainly in the Council’s area (a Parish Member). (The Council will select and appoint the Parish Council Member);
   • And as specified in the Relevant Authorities (Standards Committees) Regulations 2001.
   
   
   
2. Independent Members: Independent Members will be entitled to vote at meetings.
   
   
3. Parish Members: Parish Members must be present when matters relating to those Parish Councils or their Members are being considered.
   
   
4. Chairing the Committee: A Member of the Executive may not chair the Committee.

12.3 Role and Function

The Standards Committee will have the following roles and functions:-

1. promoting and maintaining high standards of conduct by Councillors, Co-opted Members and Church and Parent Governor Representatives;
2. assisting Councillors and Co-opted Members and Church and Parent Governor Representatives to observe the Members’ Code of Conduct;
3. advising the Council on the adoption or revision of the Members’ Code of Conduct;
4. monitoring the operation of the Members' Code of Conduct;
5. advising, training or arranging to train Councillors and Co-opted Members and Church and Parent Governor Representatives on matters relating to the Members’ Code of Conduct;
6. granting dispensations to Councillors and Co-opted Members and Church and Parent Governor Representatives from requirements relating to interests set out in the Members’ Code of Conduct;
7. dealing with any reports from a case tribunal or interim case tribunal, and any report from the Monitoring Officer on any matter which is referred by an Ethical Standards Officer to the Monitoring Officer;
8. the exercise of (a) to (g) above in relation to the Parish Councils wholly or mainly in its area and the Members of those Parish Councils;
9. overview of the Council's policies and standards of conduct and ethics;
10. to monitor and test the policies and standards of conduct and ethics; and
11. such other responsibilities as may be prescribed by law.

The Standards Committee will scrutinise Parish Council functions.