Councillors’ conduct: help keep an independent eye

North Norfolk District Council is seeking independent and parish council members to sit on its Standards Committee — the body that oversees and examines the conduct of district and town or parish councillors.

North Norfolk District Council is seeking independent and parish council members to sit on its Standards Committee — the body that oversees and examines the conduct of district and town or parish councillors.

NNDC needs two more independents and two more parish councillors, who would be appointed for a four-year period to sit alongside existing members of the Standards Committee. The Committee meets as often as once a month, to discuss and decide upon business such as ensuring councillors know about their obligations under the various codes and protocols that govern their conduct, arranging training where necessary, and following up alleged breaches of those codes.

When a breach is alleged, a sub-committee meets to explore whether a councillor has a case to answer. If so, cases can be dealt with in various ways: through investigation (and, if necessary, a formal hearing), or through training and mentoring for councillors or whole councils, to ensure they are serving their community as best they can. The Assessment Sub-Committee met seven times between May 2008 and April 2009; one case went to a hearing.

Legislation requires the Standards Committee and its sub-committees to be chaired by an independent member. Also, each sub-committee must consist of one district, one parish and one independent member. There are currently seven District Councillors, two parish members and three independents on the Standards Committee.

Members of the Standards Committee are essentially volunteers. They are not paid for regular meetings of the Standards Committee itself, but they are paid £50 for each sub-committee meeting or hearing they attend, because these are unpredictable — they only happen when they are needed, in response to complaints. So members need to be able to fit them into their daily lives, sometimes at the expense of other business. Beyond that, only travel and other out-of-pocket expenses are paid — if a receipt can be produced.

Independent members can be from any walk of life. Parish members need to live in North Norfolk, while independent members need to have some clear connection with the District, for example by living or working here. They cannot have been a Member or officer of North Norfolk District Council in the last five years, be a relative or close friend of a serving Member or officer, or have current contractual arrangements with the Council.

Ideal candidates will be committed to fairness and integrity, and be determined to uphold high standards of conduct by our local councillors.

Anyone wanting to be considered for joining the Standards Committee must apply by Thursday, 20 August. For details of the Standards Committee, a role description and a person specification — or for an informal discussion before applying — contact Elizabeth Smith, Standards and Governance Solicitor, North Norfolk District Council, Holt Road, Cromer, Norfolk NR27 9EL (telephone 01263 516043 or email elizabeth.smith@north-norfolk.gov.uk).

• You can also find out more about the Standards Committee, and other governance arrangements for NNDC and the 106 town and parish councils in North Norfolk, by visiting www.northnorfolk.org/council.asp

ENDS