Agenda item

The Director of Law and Corporate Governance presented a comprehensive report setting out the new statutory regime which transfers responsibility for the local assessment and review of complaints about alleged Member misconduct from the Standards Board of England to local Standards Committees.

It was noted that there were no additional financial resources being allocated by the Government to the Council to carry out the additional responsibilities and that this matter should be raised with the appropriate Government Minister. 

The Director of Law and Corporate Governance advised the Committee of the need to constitute additional Sub-Committees to handle the assessment of complaints and any review of any decision not to act upon an allegation.  The Committee discussed the proposed constitutional arrangements as set out in Appendix C to the report and agreed some minor changes.

Resolved - (a)  That the Director of Law and Corporate Governance be authorised to write to the appropriate Government Minister complaining about the lack of additional resources for local authorities to assess and review complaints about alleged member misconduct.

Recommended –

(b)  That the constitutional arrangements set out in Appendix C to the report as amended by the Committee and attached to these minutes be approved by the Council.