Council Constitution

4. THE STANDARDS COMMITTEE PROCEDURE RULES

1. COMPOSITION

The Committee shall comprise four elected members, three co-opted independent members and three parish members. There shall be no substitutes for any members of the Committee.

2. CHAIRMAN AND VICE CHAIRMAN

The Chairman and Vice Chairman shall be appointed by the Committee from amongst the independent members at the first meeting of the Committee following annual council.

3. PARISH MEMBERS

These will be appointed by Council in accordance with any Government guidance and in accordance with a procedure agreed by the Committee.

4. INDEPENDENT MEMBERS

Shall be appointed by Council on the recommendation of the Committee following a process that is in accordance with the relevant legislation and any guidance. Their appointment will be reviewed by the Committee every four years.

5. COMPLAINTS

The Standards Committee shall receive monitoring reports from the monitoring officer at least twice a year in relation to complaints:

  1. (i) The Monitoring Officer shall keep the Chairman of the Committee informed of the receipt and progress of complaints.
  2. There shall be no public disclosure of the identify of complainants or members complained of until a final report has been published and any disclosure shall be subject to the confidentiality provisions set out in the report.

6. INITIAL ASSESSMENT OF COMPLAINTS AND DETERMINATIONS

These will be carried out in accordance with the legislation, guidance and procedures agreed by this Committee.

Hearings shall be conducted by a Panel of three members of this committee comprising an independent member who shall be the Chairman, and two other members, one of which must be a Parish member if the hearing relates to a Parish councillor.