New Role for Rother's Standards Committee
| Published: 10th June 2008 11:27 |
Members of the public concerned about councillors' conduct can now make complaints direct to Rother's independently chaired Standards Committee.
Previously, anyone wishing to complain about the conduct of elected members had to report their allegations to the Standards Board for England in Manchester, who would decide whether or not to investigate. The Government has now placed this responsibility with the relevant local authority, with the Standards Board's role moving towards one of advice and support.
All councillors, whether they represent a Parish or Town Council or the District or County Council have to keep to a Code of Conduct to ensure that they maintain the high ethical standards the public expect from them. If a complaint reveals that a Parish, Town or District Councillor may have breached their Code, Rother's Standards Committee will itself decide whether to refer the allegation for investigation or take other action. Matters relating to a County Councillor will be dealt with by East Sussex County Council's Standards Committee.
Rother's Standards Committee will also manage any investigations, except in cases where a conflict of interest or other unusual circumstances mean that it would be more appropriate for it to be referred to the Standards Board for England to deal with.
Once cases have been investigated, the Standards Committee will decide what action, if any, should be taken against the member. On rare occasions this responsibility will be given to the Adjudication Panel for England, an independent judicial tribunal.
Mr Richard Wheeler, the independent Chairman of Rother's Standards Committee said, "Our aim is to ensure that the high standards of behaviour demonstrated to date by all our elected members continues. The majority of members will never find themselves subject to an investigation, but for the small number of cases where there is cause for concern, we will aim to deal with the allegations quickly and efficiently. Handling and investigating complaints at a local level will give the Committee the opportunity to take control of the ethical standards of members of Rother District Council and the Parish and Town Councils within its area. This should streamline the process for both the complainant and the member under investigation."
Anyone wishing to make a complaint that a District or Parish or Town Councillor within the Rother area has breached the Code of Conduct should complete the relevant complaint form and send it to the Standards Committee at the Town Hall, Bexhill, TN39 3JX.
Details of Rother's Code of Conduct and the Complaints Form are available on the Council's website at http://www.rother.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=369 and can also be inspected at any of its Community Help Points in Market Square, Battle, Amherst Road, Bexhill and Cinque Ports Street, Rye.
If anyone is unsure as to whether a matter should be investigated or requires any further information they are invited to contact David Hermon, the Council's Interim Monitoring Officer, at the Town Hall, Bexhill on 01424 787811 or e-mail him at david.hermon@rother.gov.uk
