Agenda item

(A) Independent Review of Standards Framework – to note the intention of the Committee to commission an independent review of the standards framework.

For Information

8 July 2016

(A) Independent Review of Standards Framework

In light of the comments expressed by Members at the meeting of the Court of Common Council on 23 June 2016 about the content of the Committee’s annual report, specifically in respect of a complaint addressed by the Standards Committee, it was agreed that the report should be referred back to the Committee for further consideration.

Having given the matter careful and detailed consideration, this report now informed the Court of the Committee’s decisions to re-submit the annual report to the Court this day, without the Member concerned in the complaint being named; and to commission an independent broadly-based review of the arrangements currently in place for addressing matters connected with the conduct of Members (including co-opted Members) under the Localism Act 2011.

Several Members sought clarification as to the scope of the review and the formulation of its terms of reference. In reply, the Chairman confirmed that the terms of reference would allow for a broad review to look at the totality of the current arrangements, with a direction towards the complaints procedure. The Town Clerk would be asked to select a fully independent reviewer to conduct the process who would have latitude to explore and make recommendations as they saw fit. It was also the intention of the Committee to consult the entire Court informally once the findings of the review were known, prior to formal recommendations being brought before the Court of Common Council by the end of the year. Members consequently expressed their expectation that the reviewer’s report would be shared with the Court as part of the consultation process.

Resolved – That the report be received.