The Standards
Committee is appointed by the Council. The Committee is comprised
of Leeds City Councillors, Parish Councillors and Independent
people who have no direct connection with the Council. The
Committee is chaired by an Independent Member.
Role of the Committee
The Standards
Committee is responsible for promoting and maintaining high
standards of behaviour among Councillors and Co-opted Members. It
also advises the Council on the Members’ Code of Conduct, and
reviews and revises (where appropriate) the local codes and
protocols. These are contained in Part 5 of the Council’s
Constitution. The Standards Committee also monitors compliance with
these codes and protocols to ensure they are fit for
purpose.
The Standards
Committee makes arrangements for training for Leeds City
Councillors, Co-opted Members and Parish and Town Councillors in
Leeds. It also keeps the training received by these Members under
review, and has supported the development of new methods to make
the training more accessible, such as e-learning and pocket
guides.
The Committee can
determine applications for dispensation from Leeds City Councillors
and Parish and Town Councillors where prejudicial interests would
prevent a Council Committee or Council from considering a
matter.
The Committee is
also responsible for considering any application for exemption from
political restriction, and on the application of any person or
otherwise, for giving directions to the Council requiring it to
include a post in the list of politically restricted
posts.
Further information
The Standards
Committee is also responsible for receiving any allegations of
misconduct made against Leeds City Councillors or Parish and Town
Councillors in Leeds, and making a decision about whether these
allegations require any further action. The Standards Committee has
formed a special sub-committee for this purpose called the
Assessment Sub-Committee.
Reviews of any decisions to take no
action will be carried out by the Review Sub-Committee. Meetings of
these sub-committees are not generally open to the
public.
The Committee is
also responsible for determining allegations of misconduct or
breaches of the local codes and protocols following an
investigation either by an Ethical Standards Officer at Standards
for England or the Monitoring Officer at Leeds City Council, and
has formed a sub-committee for this purpose called the Hearings
Sub-Committee.
If you would like to
find out more about the work of the Standards Committee, its
membership, and their future work programme please read the
Standards Committee Annual Report or any issue of Governance
Matters.