Terms of Reference -
Standards Committee
Membership Restrictions:
Cannot include the Elected Mayor and may not be chaired by an Executive Member
1.
The Standards Committee is responsible
for ensuring individual oversight of key issues that relate to ethics in Local
Government.
2.
The
Standards Committee is also responsible for:
(a)
promoting
and maintaining high standards of conduct by Members and the Mayor;
(b)
assisting
Members and the Mayor to observe the Members’ Code of Conduct;
(c)
advising
the Council on the adoption or revision of the Members’ Code of Conduct;
(d) monitoring the operation of, and
compliance with, the Members’ Code of Conduct;
(e) advising Members and the Mayor on matters
relating to the Members’ Code of Conduct;
(f) arranging to train Members and the Mayor on
matters relating to the Members’ Code of Conduct;
(g) considering reports relating to the conduct
of Members which may be referred to it by the Council or Chief Officers,
including issues relating to Members' interests and the maintenance and
management of any relevant registers of interests;
(h) receiving information from the Monitoring
Officer on live complaints and the likely
timelines
for their investigation to be completed;
(i) considering relevant reports referred by the
Monitoring Officer and the Chief Finance Officer and making recommendations
thereon to the Council as necessary;
(j) granting dispensations to Members, Co-opted
members and Parish Councillors and the Mayor from the
requirements relating to declarations of interest. The Monitoring Officer may
grant a dispensation where the matter is urgent and report it to the next
available Standards Committee;
(k) determining, after due investigation,
allegations of breaches of the Members’ Code of Conduct and the imposing of any
relevant sanctions;
(l) receiving references from the Corporate
Affairs Committee regarding issues of attendance by Members at training on the
Code of Conduct; and
(m) discharging the above functions in relation
to Parish Councils.
9 elected members and, if
required, two parish councillors
Quorum: 3