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Standards Committee

The Standards Committee has responsibility for promoting and maintaining high standards of conduct by Members and any co-opted Members on both Tunbridge Wells Borough Council and the following town and parish councils:

Benenden | Cranbrook | Horsmonden | Sandhurst | Bidborough

Frittenden | Lamberhurst | Speldhurst | Brenchley | Goudhurst

Paddock Wood | Southborough | Capel | Hawkhurst | Pembury

Membership:

Functions and Delegations:

  1. Promoting and maintaining high standards of conduct by Members and any co-opted Members
  2. Investigating allegations of mis-conduct of elected Members. A copy of the Complaints Form is attached below
  3. Assisting the Members and co-opted Members to observe the Members' Code of Conduct
  4. Advising the Council on the adoption or revision of the Members' Code of Conduct
  5. Monitoring the operation of the Members' Code of Conduct and audit of the register of Members' Interests for each Council. Blank forms for the Registration of Members' Interests can be downloaded using the attachments below
  6. Advising, training or arranging to train Members and co-opted Members on matters relating to the Members' Code of Conduct
  7. Granting dispensations to Members and co-opted Members from requirements relating to interests set out in the Members' Code of Conduct
  8. Dealing with any reports from a case tribunal or interim case tribunal, and any report from the monitoring officer on any matter which is referred by an ethical standards officer to the monitoring officer
  9. The exercise of (1) to (7) above in relation to the Parish and Town Councils wholly or mainly in its area and the members of those Parish Councils
  10. Overview of internal and external audit with a view to making any recommendations for change
  11. Overview of the whistle-blowing policy with a view to making recommendations for change to the policy
  12. Overview of complaints handling and Ombudsman investigations with a view to making recommendations for change to the procedure (if any)
  13. Oversight of the constitution with a view to making recommendations for change
  14. The exercise of the function number 48 (being the power to make payments or provide other benefits in cases of maladministration etc) contained in the Local Authorities (Functions and Responsibilities) (England) Regulations 2000, as amended, under the section headed Miscellaneous Functions Part II

Councillors' Annual Reports

The reports for each Councillor demonstrate their engagement with, and on behalf of their communities, focusing on community development and consultation.

Registers of Members' Interests

The Registers of Members' Interests are public documents which are kept at Tunbridge Wells Town Hall and can be inspected during office hours by prior arrangement with the Monitoring Officer by calling 01892 554006.

Complaints against Members and Co-opted Members

The Standards Committee is responsible for dealing with the initial stages of complaints against Members and co-opted Members on both Tunbridge Wells Borough Council and the 15 town and parish councils listed above.

Please note that complaints about council services or policies should be directed to the Council’s Customer Care Manager (further details are available at http://www.tunbridgewells.gov.uk/section.asp?catid=235. The documents below set out details of how to make a complaint and how they will be handled.

Standards for England provides an independent, national overview of how local authorities promote and improve the ethical behaviour of their Members. For further details, visit their website: www.standardsforengland.gov.uk

Please click on the link below to view the Decision Notice following a recent complaint made about a Borough Councillor:

Decision Notice TWBC09/08

 

Attachments

PDF Icon Form for Registering Members Personal Interests  Acrobat/PDF File 44k

PDF Icon TWBC Standards Committee Annual Report 2009/10 - Ensuring High Ethical Standards  Acrobat/PDF File 503k

PDF Icon Comments Compliments and Complaints leaflet  Acrobat/PDF File 406k

PDF IconComplaints about councillors Form Acrobat/PDF File 297KB

PDF IconSummary of procedures for dealing with complaints Acrobat/PDF File 27.5KB

PDF IconDetailed procedures for dealing with complaints Acrobat/PDF File 27.5KB

PDF IconAssessment Criteria Acrobat/PDF File 27.7KB

PDF IconInvestigation guidelines Acrobat/PDF File 25.8KB

PDF IconFrequently Asked Questions Acrobat/PDF File 20KB

Related Pages

  • The Council Constitution
    The Tunbridge Wells Borough Council's constitution sets out how the Council operates, how decisions are made and the procedures which are followed to ensure that these are efficient, transparent and accountable to local people. Some of these processes are required by the law, while others are a matter for the Council to choose.