7.4.1
The Standards
Committee has the following functions:
(a)
to promote and maintain high standards of conduct
of Members and Co-opted Members of the Council;
(b)
to advise and assist Town and Parish Councils and
Councillors to maintain high standards of conduct and to make
recommendations to Town and Parish Councils on improving standards
or actions following a finding of failure by a Town and Parish
Councillor to comply with its Code of Conduct;
(c)
to manage complaints on behalf of Town and
Parish Councils;
(d)
to advise the Council on the adoption or revision
of the Members’ Code of Conduct;
(e)
to receive referrals from the Monitoring Officer
into allegations of misconduct in accordance with the
council’s assessment criteria;
(f)
to receive reports from the Monitoring Officer and
assess the operation and effectiveness of the Members’ Code
of Conduct;
(g)
to train Members and Co-opted Members to observe
the Members’ Code of Conduct;
(h)
to assist Members and co-opted Members to observe
the Members’ Code of Conduct;
(i)
to hear and determine complaints about Members and
Co- Opted Members referred to it by the Monitoring
Officer;
(j)
to advise the Council upon the contents of and
requirements for codes/protocols/other procedures relating to
standards or conduct throughout the council;
(k)
to maintain an oversight of the council’s
arrangements for dealing with complaints;
(l)
to inform the Council and the Chief Executive of
relevant issues arising from the
determination of Code of Conduct complaints;
(m)
to appoint the Standards Sub-Committee drawn from
three members of the Committee which will exercise, on a delegated
basis, the functions as set out in the Sub- Committee terms of
reference. The committee should reflect Member representation where
practicable;
(n)
to exercise the power to consider and grant
dispensations to Members
where:
(i)
the number of Members precluded from transacting the
business is so great that it would impede the business of
the Council, committee or Executive;
or
(ii)
the political balance is affected to the extent
that it could affect the outcome of a vote relating to the
business.
Standards meetings are webcast here.