Standards & Ethics

The Standards and Ethics Committee was established as a requirement under the Local Government Act 2000. Its principal role is to promote and maintain high standards of conduct. It is independent in the way it operates and is chaired by an Independent Member. The Committee currently comprises 11 Members:

• 4 District Councillors -appointed to the Committee at the Annual Council meeting each May
• 2 Parish/Town Council representatives (plus two vacancies) and 4 Independent lay people - both appointed every 4 years.

Their Declarations of Financial and Other Interests can be accessed through the link on the right of this page.

The Committee has many roles. For example, it is responsible for the assessment and possible investigation of complaints about District and Parish/Town Councillors. This is only in relation to potential breaches in the Code of Conduct. The outcomes ("Decision Notices") of Sub Committee assessments/investigations/reviews are set out in the link given below.

Further details on the Committee's additional functions can be found in the "Decorum" newsletters, linked below.

In addition, the full role and functions of the Committee are set out within Article 9 of the Council's Constitution, together with the Terms of Reference and Delegation of Powers for the Committee and its 3 Sub Committees - Initial Assessment, Review, and Determination of Complaints.

What the Committee Can't Do

Occasionally, the Committee receives complaints about the governance of Parish Councils (i.e. the way they are run). The Committee does not have the power to look into these complaints unless they also show that Members may have breached the Code of Conduct.

Information relating to the governance of Parish Councils can be obtained from WALC - the Warwickshire and West Mildands Association of Local Councils - telephone 02476 217349 or email walc@walc.org.uk, website www.walc.org.uk

Further useful links:

• Codes of Conduct - for District and Parish/Town Councillors
• Complaints about Councillors - includes Complaints Form and Procedure
• Decision Notices - the outcomes of assessments/investigations or reviews
• Declarations of Interest for District Councillors
• Declarations of Interest for Independent Members/Parish Council Representatives
• Annual Report
• Decorum - issues of the Standards and Ethics Committee's newsletter
• Ethical Governance Policies - including the Whistleblowing Policy, Freedom of Information and Data Protection
• The Constitution