The Terms of Reference for the Standards
and Business Committee will include the following
functions:
Standards
·
promoting and maintaining high standards
of conduct by elected Members and in their working relationship
with officers
·
a commitment to encourage positive joint
working across political groups and between officers and Members
and to uphold the high standards of values and behaviours in a
relationship of mutual trust
·
supporting and facilitating collaborative
working between Members and senior officers, particularly to
support the consideration of strategic priorities by relevant
Committees
·
advising the Council on the Code of
Conduct for Councillors including any revisions to the
Code
·
oversight of any training required to
train Members and relevant officers on all matters relating to
standards and the promotion of the 12 Principles of Conduct in
public life, including the Local Government Code of Conduct for
Councillors and any associated training identified by the
Committee
·
oversight of the Members’ Register
and Declaration of Interests
·
to develop, monitor and review any local
protocols required to support the standards regime within the
Council
·
to ensure adherence to the Local
Government Employee and Councillor Working Relationship
Protocol
·
to consider any minutes of a formal
meeting held under Section 5.9 of the Local Government Employee and
Councillor Working Relationship Protocol [tbc re GDPR]
·
oversight of the Local Resolution
Protocol which will deal with “low level disputes”
alleging breaches of the Code of Conduct for Councillors and is
designed to restore positive working relationships through
mediation[1]
·
consideration of any recommendation by
the Monitoring Officer to refer any Councillor to the Local
Government Commissioner for Standards in respect of any potential
breach of the Code of Conduct for Councillors, particularly where
the alleged breach relates to a matter which would potentially have
a reputational consequence for the Council
·
the Monitoring Officer will retain a
residual right to refer any matter to the Commissioner for
Standards regardless of whether the Standards Committee has
endorsed a recommendation from the Monitoring Officer to do
so
·
oversight of the procedural requirements
of any mediation process put in place to restore internal
relationships between Political Parties, Members and/or
officers
·
consideration of update reports into
investigations carried out by the Public Services Ombudsman /
Commissioner for Standards
·
oversight of the implementation of
recommendations made by the Public Services Ombudsman /
Commissioner for Standards
·
providing recommendations to the
Strategic Policy and Resources Committee in respect of any
amendments which need to be made to the Council Constitution in
relation to the standards regime within the Council
·
In respect of any other matter which may
require some consideration in the context of standards, acting in
an advisory capacity, with reports referred to it either directly
by the reporting officer or by another Standing
Committee
·
consideration of agenda items for other
Standing Committees which identify standards
implications
Business
·
receiving and reviewing all Notices of
Motion and using the Committee’s delegated power to recommend
either adoption or debate at the next Council meeting
·
Reviewing Council Standing Orders with a
view to making recommendations to the Strategic Policy and
Resources Committee
·
initial consideration and review of
Council matters that are under internal or external
investigation
·
keeping under review and monitoring the
Council’s Scheme of Delegation
·
keeping under review and monitoring the
Council’s administrative and procedural arrangements in
relation to governance”