Standards Committee

The role of the Standards Committee is to:-

• Prepare local Codes of Conduct for Members and officers, taking account of national models and guidance, to submit these Codes of Conduct for consideration and approval by full Council.
  
• Ensure that the Codes of Conduct are properly understood and applied throughout the Authority.
  
• Investigate and determine allegations of minor breaches of the Members' Code of Conduct (it is likely that legislation will require allegations of 'substantial' breaches to be dealt with by Regional Standards Board).
  
• Consider any reports relevant to the Committee remit referred by the Monitoring Officer (relating to issues of misconduct and illegality) and the Chief Financial Officer (Section 151), and refer these, with recommendations, to Full Council as/if necessary. (The Monitoring Officer and the Chief Financial Officer may choose to refer reports directly to Full Council. In either event, he or she may revise the original report based on the Council's response).
  
• Ensure that the highest standards of financial probity are maintained throughout the Authority, within policies set by the Council (e.g. anti-fraud).
  
• Develop such policies for consideration and approval by the Council.
  
• Determine, in collaboration with the External and Internal Auditors, an annual Audit Plan for the Authority and to receive periodic reports from the Internal and External Auditors on progress against the Plan..
  
• Consider the External Auditor's management letter.
  
• Monitor compliance with Audit; External Inspectorate; and Ombudsman reports; following their consideration and resolution by Cabinet and Council.

There are ten Members comprising:-

• Seven Members of the Council, including the Majority Party Whip and Deputy Whip, and one Member from the Minority Group, but excluding Cabinet Members.
  
• Three independent co-optees (Government legislation may require these to be selected from a list provided by a Regional Standards Board).
  
• Cabinet Support Members are eligible for membership (subject to proposed legislation continuing to allow Cabinet Support Members).

If a Member of the Standards Committee is subject to an allegation of misconduct, their membership of the Board will immediately be suspended pending further action.

A minimum of four meetings are held per year.  Additional meetings are held as and when required.  They are held in public with provision for private sessions (with explanation) where necessary.