Contact: Kevin Gardner, tel. 01962 847381, email [email protected]

1 Summary

1.1 The Chairman and Head of Legal Practice attended the Seventh Assembly of Standards Committees in Birmingham on the 13 - 14 October 2008. This is a major national conference attended by members and chairs of standards committees, monitoring officers, elected members, government and Standards Board representatives. The conference included both large group presentations and discussions, and smaller group workshop sessions. It provided an excellent opportunity to network with people with similar responsibilities from different parts of the country. This report summarises the key points for reporting back to the Committee, for information.

2 Local handling of Complaints under the Members' Code of Conduct

2.1 This was the first annual assembly of standards committees to be held since the transfer of responsibility for the receipt and handling of complaints under the Members' Code, from the Standards Board to local standards committee, in May of this year.

2.2 The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Sadiq Khan MP, declared the new conduct regime a success. This was elaborated upon further by the new Chief Executive of the Standards Board, Glenys Stacey. Data gathered by the Board for the period since May showed that, nationally, 1009 cases had been handled by local standards committees. 54% of these were complaints from the public, 36% complaints by other members, and 10% by others (e.g. officers, MPs). The main areas generating complaints were parish councils and development control. Discussions with others at the conference confirmed the general position that complaints were less likely to be received by county councils, police authorities and fire authorities.

2.3 Attendance at workshops and other sessions at the conference gave the opportunity to test out whether the procedures adopted by the Committee at its last meeting, for the handling of complaints, were fit for purpose and in accordance with guidance. This was confirmed to be the case.

2.4 The new Chair of the Standards Board, Dr Robert Chilton, reported that the Conservative Party had recently indicated that, if elected to power, a Conservative Government would seek to abolish the Standards Board. It was suggested that, after several years of operating the local arrangements for handling of complaints, one may question the need for a national body to act as strategic regulator. He explained that a challenge for the Board was to demonstrate the value that it added, and this would be reflected in its Service Planning for the next 3 years.

3 What Makes a Standards Committee effective?

3.1 A session was delivered by Alison Kelly of the Audit Commission and Dr Michael MacAuley from the University of Teesside, on how standards committees may take their operation to a "higher level". They considered what factors made a standards committee effective, and suggested the following:

3.1.1 Arranges training for members on the Code of Conduct and the handling of complaints,

3.1.2 Ensures that there are procedures in place for whistleblowing and combatting fraud,

3.1.3 Has involvement in internal and external audit,

3.1.4 Considers how lessons can be learned and applied from ombudsman referrals to improve practice and governance,

3.1.5 Ensures that there is a member and officer protocol and that this is understood in practice.

3.2 It was suggested that an effective standards committee should be clear as to the contribution it makes to ensure principles of high ethical conduct are at the heart of organisational culture, and are manifest in everyday behaviour and attitudes.

3.3 It was suggested that an effective standards committee should play a leadership role in the promotion of standards of conduct, ensuring that standards are embedded within an authority's practice and processes.

3.4 It was suggested that the contribution made by the standards committee should be recognised and understood by all parts of the authority, and that it should be seen as a friend and source of advice, not a foe. It was important to develop trust within the committee, within the authority, and with the public.

3.5 Committees were invited to consider whether they were achieving these aims and, if not, how they might go about this. Recognition of the committee's role at the level of leadership within the authority was vital. The committee should discuss with the leadership its perception of the ethical health of the authority, and the role it can play in promoting greater trust in the authority amongst stakeholders, through the maintenance of high ethical standards. Standards committees were encouraged to think of how they may take this forward, and whether six monthly meetings between the chair of the committee and the leadership of the authority may assist.

3.6 It was suggested that the Committee could usefully contribute to the development of the authority's annual governance statement.

4 Conclusion

4.1 Attendance at the conference provided a useful opportunity to learn of the latest practice on issues relevant to the work of the committee and to exchange information and experience with others in similar positions

4 Recommendation

4.1 That the Committee consider the issues raised at the conference and whether it wishes to take any further action on the suggestions made.

Background Papers:
Conference materials:
http://www.annualassembly.co.uk/Programme/Sessionmaterials/