A report and supporting Appendices by the Director of Law, HR and Asset Management reminded the Committee that on 21 May 2012 the Council had approved new arrangements in relation to the promotion and maintaining of high standards of conduct by Members. The changes had included:

(a)  changes to the Article 9 (Terms of Reference of the Standards Committee (and its Panels)) of the Council’s Constitution;

(b)  a new Members’ Code of Conduct;

(c)  a new Protocol dealing with arrangements for investigating and making decisions in relation to allegations made under the Members’ Code of Conduct;

(d)  the new Complaint Form that is to be used in relation to complaints relating to the Members’ Code of Conduct; and

The Council also authorised the Monitoring Officer to make arrangements to enable the Council to appoint ‘Independent Persons’ to support the effective administration of standards complaints and decisions, in accordance with the requirements of the Localism Act 2011.

The Committee had been informed previously that it had been confirmed that the Localism Act 2011 prevented relevant authorities (including the Council) from appointing people who had been appointed as Independent Standards Members (under the old Standards regime) to the new role of Independent Person under the new Standards regime.  However, Regulations issued in June 2012 enabled authorities to appoint prior to 2013, former Independent Members to serve as Independent Persons.

RESOLVED: That the Standards Committee:

(1)  notes this report;

(2)  agrees to a Standards Working Group being convened in accordance with the Terms of Reference set out at Appendix 2 to the report; and

(3)  agrees to the recruitment exercise for Independent Person to be extended until 6 July 2012 to enable any Independent Members under the old Standards Regime to apply for the role of Independent Person. and authorises the Head of Legal and Member Services to recommend to Council, for approval and appointment, all suitable persons for the role of Independent Person.