Agenda item

The report of the Monitoring Officer is attached.

The Monitoring Officer provided a report that presented the findings of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, review of Local Government Ethical Standards. The purpose of the review was to review the standard arrangements in particular how they support and safeguard local democracy, maintain high standards of conduct, and protect ethical practice in local government, particularly in light of the changes made by the Localism Act 2011. The Monitoring Officer explained that terms of reference for the review examined the structures, processes and practices in local government in England as follows:

·         Maintaining code of conduct for local councillors

·         Investigating alleged breaches fairly and with due process

·         Enforcing codes and imposing sanctions for misconduct

·         Declaring interests and managing conflicts of interest

·         Whistleblowing

·         Assess whether the existing structures, processes and practices are conducive to a high standards of conduct in local government

·         Make any recommendations for how they can be improved

·         Note any evidence of intimidation of councillors, and make recommendations for any measures that could be put in place to prevent and address such intimidation

The report also made a number of key recommendations as follows:

·         A new power for local authorities to suspend councillors without allowances for up to six months with a right of appeal for suspended councillors to the Local Government Ombudsman

·         Revised rules on declaring interests and gifts and hospitality

·         An updated voluntary Model Code of Conduct to be introduced with local authorities to retain ownership of their own Codes of Conduct

·         A strengthened role for the Independent Person

·         Monitoring Officers provided with adequate training, corporate support and resources and statutory protections to be expanded

·         Greater transparency about the number and nature of Code complaints

Political groups set clear expectations of behaviour by their members and code of conduct training to be mandatory

The Monitoring Officer referred to the Best Practise guidance  provided in the Appendix with the report, advising that the best practice guidance provided a list of best practice are a matter for individual local authorities and could be introduced by the Council straightaway. The Monitoring Officer added that some of the items were already included within the Council’s arrangements.  

In considering the recommendations provided in the report the Committee raised specific questions in respect of the language used within the best practice, and whether these could be reworded if adopted by the Council. The Committee also felt that the role of Town and Parish Clerks required adequate protection when reviewing Standards, adding that recruitment of good clerks can be difficult raising the concern that there is one clerk in the Borough covering a number of Parishes.

The Independent Person raised his concerns in respect of his role and his protection adding that the Council would find it increasingly difficult to recruit for this rule also.

It was resolved that:

a)    The report of the Committee on Standards in Public Life be noted; and

b)    Steps be taken to introduce the best practice recommendations set out in the report of the Committee on Standards in Public Life.