Standards Committee
Composition:
Seven Councillors in political balance.
Chair appointed by Full Council annually.
The Vice Chair to be appointed by the Committee, and to be from a
different political group from the Chair.
Terms of Reference:
1.1
To assist the Council in fulfilling its duty under
the Localism Act 2011 to promote and maintain high standards of
conduct by members and co-opted members of the Council.
1.2
To advise the Council on the adoption or revision of
its Code of Conduct.
1.3
To monitor and advise the Council about the
operation of its Code of Conduct in the light of best practice and
any changes in the law.
1.4
To approve the arrangements for dealing with
allegations that a Councillor or a Parish Councillor within the
District has failed to comply with the relevant Councillors’
Code of Conduct.
1.5
To determine whether a Councillor or Parish
Councillor has failed to comply with the relevant Code of
Conduct.
1.6
Where the Committee finds that a failure to comply
with the Code of Conduct has occurred, to determine what action, if
any, to take and to apply the sanction or recommend to Council to
apply an appropriate sanction.
1.7
To assist the Council with the appointment of
Independent Persons as required by the Localism Act
2011.
1.8
To determine any request for a dispensation under
Section 33 of the Localism Act 2011, where not determined by the
Monitoring Officer or to appeal against a determination by the
Monitoring Officer.
1.9
To advise the Council on, and review as necessary,
the
arrangements for dealing with complaints or any
local protocols regulating the conduct of Councillors
and to deal with allegations of breach of any such
protocol.
1.10
To consider reports referred by the Monitoring
Officer, including the Annual Governance Statement submitted to the
Audit Committee.
1.11
To respond, on behalf of the Council, to national
reviews and consultations on standards related issues.
1.12
To consider and make recommendations to the Council
on any other matter that may be referred to the Standards Committee
relating to the conduct of Councillors.
1.13
To ensure decisions are politically
neutral.