Former university deputy to lead new Standards team

A former university deputy principal is leading a new team charged with receiving and deciding what to do about any complaints relating to the conduct of both Barnsley councillors and parish councillors, after new Government regulations came into force yesterday (Thursday, 8 May).

The aim of this change in approach is to put local investigation – and whether or not to investigate - and decision making in the hands of local people who will have the knowledge and awareness of local issues. It will hopefully speed up decision making and reduce the risk of trivial investigations.

Nick Andrew, who lives in Penistone, is the independent chair of a team that also includes six independent people and at least three elected councillors.

The team, to be known as the Local Standards Committee, will make an initial assessment of misconduct allegations. Once it has received and considered a complaint, it will have three options: refer it to the council Borough Secretary (in his capacity as monitoring officer) for investigation; refer it to the Standards Board for England for investigation; or make a decision not to take any action at all.

Any reference to the Standards Board of England will only be on exceptional grounds, such as in the case of conflict issues or very serious allegations. It will be for the monitoring officer to shoulder the responsibility of investigation in most circumstances.

Previously, all complaints were dealt with by the Standards Board of England. However, its focus will now shift to its role as a regulator rather than investigator, as well as continuing to provide expert guidance to local authorities.

The Local Standards Committee will however be required to report information about receiving and investigating cases to the Standards Board in order to ensure effectiveness of the local arrangements. Such monitoring will ensure confidence that local representatives are serving the public openly and fairly, and being held to account effectively if they fall below the accepted line.

The new localised approach to standards monitoring has the full support of the Local Government Association, which has commented that such matters are best dealt with at a local level.
 
Nick Andrew is the former Deputy Principal of the University of Bradford, where his responsibilities included disciplinary and complaints procedures. He is a former Member of Association of Heads of University Administration, former member of its Executive; Chair of Governance group and working groups on public interest disclosure, student appeals and complaints and students with criminal convictions. He is also former Chair of Universities UK Working Group on Freedom of Information.

Commenting on his appointment, Nick said: “This is a great opportunity at a time of real change for the standards system in this country. I am fully aware of the ethical standards system applying to local authorities and have been responsible for ensuring adherence to an equivalent approach in Higher Education. Along with my fellow committee members I aim to ensure the people of Barnsley have a system they can truly believe in and trust.”

Adding his comments Andrew Frosdick, Barnsley Council Borough Secretary (and Monitoring Officer), said: ‘This is an important appointment as we work to build up the reputation of the authority and how it works and we fully support the view that such local matters are best dealt with locally by local people. We are therefore delighted to have attracted somebody with Nick’s skills and experience, right here on our doorstep.”

Editor’s note:
The make up of the Local Standards Committee will be:
• Nick Andrew, Chair.
• Right Rev. Tony Robinson, Bishop of Pontefract.
• Sam Robinson, non-elected member
• John Wood, representing the voluntary sector
• Len Neville, active in the community sector.
• Michael Pagett, former divisional fire officer.
• Pat Doyle, Brierley Town Council
• Cllr. Ronnie Fisher.
• Cllr Charlie Wraith.
• Elected member – to be confirmed