Contact: Colin Hinxman - Ext: 7343

1. Chapter 9 of the County Council's Constitution sets out the terms of reference for the Standards Committee, which will have the following roles and functions:

(a) Promoting and maintaining high standards of conduct by Councillors, Co-opted Members, and Church and Parent Governor representatives.


(b) Assisting Councillors and Co-opted Members, and Church and Parent Governor representatives, to observe the Members' Code of Conduct.


(c) Advising the Council on adopting or revising the Members' Code of Conduct or other Council internal procedures relating to Members, including Standing Orders and any other procedures regulating the conduct of meetings.


(d) Monitoring the operation of the Members' Code of Conduct.


(e) Setting up the Hampshire County Council Members' Allowances Scheme.


(f) Advising, training or arranging to train Councillors and Co-opted Members, and Church and Parent Governor representatives, on matters relating to the Members' Code of Conduct.


(g) Granting exemptions to Councillors and Co-opted Members and Church and Parent Governor representatives from requirements relating to interests set out in the Members' Code of Conduct.


(h) Dealing with any reports from a case tribunal or interim case tribunal, and any report from the Monitoring Officer on any matter which is referred by an Ethical Standards Officer to the Monitoring Officer.


(i) Overseeing the County Council's "whistle blowing" policy.


(j) Overseeing complaints - handling and Ombudsman investigations.


(k) Overseeing the Constitution.


(l) Power to make or amend Standing Orders relating to Contracts and financial standing orders or regulations relating to the conduct of the Council's business.


(m) Monitoring the operation of the provisions relating to call-in and urgency set out in Part 3D Paragraphs 1.15 and 1.16 and submitting an annual report to Council if necessary.


(n) Functions relating to elections as specified in Schedule 1 Paragraph D1-17 of the Functions Regulations.

2. Procedures

2.1. The agenda of the Standards Committee shall be divided into two sections.

Part 1 : Standards - dealing with items a, b, c, d and f, g, h, i, j and k.

Part 2 : Procedures - dealing with items e and k, l, m and n

Independent Members will be entitled to vote only on Part 1 items.

RECOMMENDATIONS

That this report be noted.

Section 100 D - Local Government Act 1972 - background papers

The following documents disclose facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and has been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report.

NB the list excludes:

1 Published works.

2 Documents which disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act.

5jR20102