More About the Standards Committee

The Council has established a Standards Committee to maintain and promote high standards of conduct. The Committee is made up of five councillors representing each of the three main political parties, three independent members and two parish council representatives. It is chaired by one of the independent members.

• Standards Committee Membership & Papers
• Contact details if you want more information about standards

What Does the Standards Committee do?

The Standards Committee has the following roles and functions:

• Promoting and maintaining high standards of conduct by councillors;
• Overseeing ethical issues and providing advice and guidance to councillors on the Members' Code of Conduct;
• Considering any complaints of a breach of the Members’ Code of Conduct.

The Committee performs these roles and functions for the Borough Council and the 27 Parish and Town Councils in the Borough.

Each year the Standards Committee produces an Annual Report. The latest Annual Report is available below.

What do I do if I want to make a complaint?

From 8th May 2008 if you wish to make a complaint that a Borough Councillor or a councillor from the 27 Town and Parish Councils in the Borough has breached the Members' Code of Conduct it should be made to the Borough Council's Standards Committee.

What is the Members’ Code of Conduct?

All Borough Councillors are required to agree to abide by the Members' Code of Conduct. The Code sets out the obligations of Councillors and co-opted members.

From 3rd May 2007 a revised Code of Conduct applies to Borough Councillors. The Code can be found in Part 5 of the Council's Constitution.

What is the Register of Members’ Interests?

Part of the Code requires that all Councillors (Borough and Parish/Town) are required to register their interests in a Register which is open to inspection by the public. If you would like to view the Register please contact us.

The things that have to be registered include Councillors’ employment, financial interests relating to businesses, details of any contracts with the Council and any other land where the Councillor has any beneficial interest. The Register also includes details of certain organisations that Councillors belong to, whether nominated by the Council, or in their own right and any gifts or hospitality they receive in the course of their duties as a councillor over the value of £25.