Committee details

The standards committee consists of councillors and independent members. Its role is to promote high standards of conduct including advising on any revision of the members' code of conduct, monitoring its operation and granting dispensations. It considers reports and advice from Standards for England. The committee also overviews the whistle blowing policy.  The Standards Committee meets quarterly.

The standards committee through its sub-committees also deals with complaints against councillors’ conduct.  Where there are alleged breaches of the council’s members’ code of conduct the standards sub-committee will assess these and decide if and by whom they should be investigated.  Following any investigation a separate sub-committee will consider a report and determine what action, if any, needs to be taken.

The chair of the standards committee has written a letter to all council members setting out the standards committee’s priorities and activities.  The chair has also written a letter outlining to the public what the role of the standards committee is within the council’s governance framework and what its main responsibilities are. Additionally, the committee has produced a work programme, outlining the committee’s business for the year 2010-11.