The Standards Committee
discharges the functions of the Council relating to Standards as
follows, including those contained in Part 1, Chapter 7 of the
Localism Act 2011 (other than those which are reserved to Council
by law):
1. To promote and
maintain high standards of conduct by Members and Co-opted Members
of the Borough Council and to make recommendations to Council on
improving standards.
2. To advise and
assist Town and Parish Councils and Town and Parish Councillors to
observe their respective codes of conduct and to maintain high
standards of conduct and to make recommendations to Town and Parish
Councils on improving standards.
3. To advise the
Borough Council on the adoption of or revisions to its Code of
Conduct.
4. To advise,
train or arrange to train Members, Co-opted Members and Town and Parish Councillors on matters
relating to the Code of Conduct.
5. To monitor and
assess the operation and effectiveness of the Code of Conduct and
to review and manage the Arrangements for dealing with Code of
Conduct Complaints.
6. To advise on
local ethical governance protocols and procedures.
7. To monitor and
review the procedures for the Register of Members’ Interests
and declaring gifts and hospitality.
8. To receive
periodic reports from the Monitoring Officer on the number and
nature of complaints received and action taken as a result in
consultation with the Independent Person.
9. To receive an
annual report on the Borough Council’s ethical governance
arrangements.
10. To grant
dispensations pursuant to S33(2) of the
Localism Act 2011 where:
(iii)
without
the dispensation, the representation of different
political groups on the body transacting the business would be so
upset as to alter the outcome of any vote on the matter.
(iv)
that the authority considers that the dispensation
is in the interests of persons living in its area; or
(v)
where the Committee considers that it is otherwise appropriate to
grant a dispensation.
11.
Oversight of the Constitution in relation to ethical matters and
overview of complaints handling and Ombudsman investigations where
probity issues are raised.
12.
Determination of written complaints to any Statutory Officer about
alleged breaches of Local Protocols adopted by the
Council.
13. The consideration of
applications received from any officers of the Authority for
exemption from political restriction under Section 1 and 2 of the
Local Government Act 1989 in respect of the post held by that
Officer and can direct the Authority that the post shall not be
considered to be a politically restricted post and that the post be
removed from the list maintained by the Authority under Section
2(2) of the Act.
