Dover District Standards Committee
The Dover District Standards Committee is responsible for
promoting and maintaining high standards of conduct amongst the 45
members of Dover District Council and the 317 members of the 35
town and parish councils in the district.
The main functions of the Standards Committee
are as follows:
- To promote and maintain high standards of
conduct by District Councillors, Town and Parish Councillors and
Co-Opted Members.
- To advise on the Members' Code of
Conduct.
- To monitor the effectiveness of the Code of
Conduct and arrange training in conjunction with the Monitoring
Officer for Members where it is required.
- To discharge those functions conferred on the
Standards Committee by legislation such as the local assessment of
complaints.
- To monitor complaints handling and Ombudsman
investigations and to make payments or provide other benefits in
cases of maladministration.
- To advise the Council on the operation of and
variations and amendments to the Constitution having particular
regard to probity and ethical standards.
- To advise the Council or the Executive on all
matters relating to ethical standards during the formulation or
preparation of any Council policy.
- To grant dispensations to Members with prejudicial
interests in appropriate circumstances.
The Standards Committee consists of:
- 5 Independent Members (who are not councillors or officers of
any of the councils covered by the Committee)
- 6 District Councillors (including 1 member of the Cabinet)
- 3 Town and Parish Councillors (2 town councillors and 1 parish
councillor)
The Chairman and Vice-Chairman of
the Standards Committee are required under the Council's
Constitution to be Independent Members. In addition, the Chairmen
of the Standards Committee's Sub-Committees are also required to be
Independent Members.
There are four sub-committees
appointed by the Standards Committee:
- Initial Assessment and
Consideration Sub-Committee
- Review Sub-Committee
- Hearing Sub-Committee
- Dispensations Sub-Committee
Initial Assessment decisions and any subsequent review of
decisions to take no further action on a complaint are conducted in
closed meetings. Accordingly, the minutes and agendas of these
meetings are not available to the public. There is a presumption
that Hearing and Dispensation Sub-Committees will be held in public
unless otherwise specified.
The Standards Committee has four scheduled meetings each
municipal year. The four Sub-Committees do not have
scheduled meetings and instead meet as necessary.
Annual Report of the Standards Committee
The Standards Committee is required under the Council's
Constitution to produce an annual report on its activities and the
operation of the local assessment framework.
Contact Democratic Services
Tel: 01304 872304
E-mail: democraticservices@dover.gov.uk
