Article 9 STANDARDS BOARD
9.1 Standards Board
The Council will establish a Standards Board.
9.2 Composition
The Standards Board will be composed of four elected Members (who may
not include the Cabinet Leader or more than one member of the Cabinet) and
four independent members, who are neither a Councillor or officer of this or
any other local authority. The independent members will enjoy full voting
rights.
The Council Members will comprise one nominee from each of the political
Groups, the nominated Members to have served at least one term of office
with the Council;
9.3 Role and Function
The Standards Board will have the following roles and functions:
Promoting and maintaining high standards of conduct by Councillors.
Assisting Councillors in observing the authority's code of conduct.
Advising the authority on the adoption or revision of a code of conduct.
Monitoring the operation of the authority's code of conduct.
Advising, training or arranging to train Councillors on matters relating to the Authority's code of conduct.
Exercising other functions consistent with the role of the local Board.
Advising the Council in respect of provisions made by the Secretary of State with respect to the exercising of functions by standards committees of local authorities in England.
Advising the Council in respect of guidance from the national Standards Board for England relating to the exercising of functions by standards committees of local authorities in England.
Developing local protocols to address concerns regarding abuse of the procedures.
Carrying out any additional duties prescribed by statue to allow the Council to meet its statutory requirements in respect of standards committees of local authorities in England.
Considering matters referred to the local Board by the Ethical Standards Officer of the national Standards Board for England.
9.4 Chairing the Board
A member of the Cabinet will not Chair the Board and the Chair does not have to be a Councillor. The Board will appoint at its first meeting following the annual meeting of the Council the Chair and Vice-Chair for the forthcoming year.
The Chair of the Standards Board (or the Vice-Chair in the absence of the Chair), if not an elected Member, will be able to attend meetings of the full Council to present reports, answer questions and respond to motions on the work of the Board in accordance with the appropriate provisions of the Rules of Procedure.
Where the non-elected Members of the Standards Board are not the Chair or Vice-Chair of the Board, they will be invited to attend meetings of the full Council and be permitted to speak, but not vote, on matters relating to the work of the Board.
9.5 Quorum
The quorum for any meetings of the Standards Board will be two Councillors and one independent member.
9.6 Voting
The provisions of Schedule 12 Paragraph 39 of the Local Government Act 1972 shall apply to meetings of the Standards Board. i.e. .all questions will be decided by majority of the members present and voting and the Chair will have a casting vote.
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