Terms of Reference Standards Committee

The Standards Committee has the following roles and functions:

• Promoting and maintaining high standards of conduct by Councillors, co-opted members and representatives of religious organisations and parent governor representatives.
• Assisting the Leader, Councillors, co-opted members and representatives of religious organisations and parent governor representatives to observe the Members’ Code of Conduct.
• Advising the council on the adoption or revision of the Members’ Code of Conduct.
• Monitoring the operation of the Members’ Code of Conduct.
• Advising, training or arranging to train Councillors, co-opted members and non-voting co-opted members on matters relating to the Members’ Code of Conduct and the ethical framework.
• Granting dispensations to Councillors, co-opted members and non-voting co-opted members from requirements relating to interests set out in the Members’ Code of Conduct.
• Advising the council on codes and protocols forming the council’s ethical framework and its governance arrangements, monitoring the effectiveness of those arrangements and making reports and recommendations accordingly.
• Dealing with any reports from a case tribunal or interim case tribunal and any report from the Monitoring Officer on any matter which is referred by the Ethical Standards Officer to the Monitoring Officer.
• Hearing complaints against Councillors and voting co-optees made to the council or referred back from the Standard Board for England.
• Hearing complaints against co-optees arising from alleged breaches of Codes and Protocols falling outside the jurisdiction of the Standards Board for England.
• Responding to national reviews and consultations on standards related issues.