Joint Standards Committee	23 September 2021
Report of the Monitoring Officer

Model Code Update – Review of Procedures

Summary

This report provides the Joint Standards Committee with the current procedures in place, which will need to be reviewed in light of the new Model Code of Conduct.

Background

The Committee will be aware that a set of procedures are in place which deal with different stages in Standards complaints.  The Committee had indicated that they wished to review the procedures after the Model Code of Conduct had been considered by Full Council and implemented, however, recent Joint Standards Committee Hearing Panels has brought to light procedural issues which has led to the Chair and Vice Chair of the Committee, along with other Members of the Committee to request that the procedures be reconsidered as a matter of urgency. 

The procedures are annexed as follows:

· Annex A – Complaints Procedure

· Annex B -  Assessment Criteria

· Annex C – Pre Hearing Procedure

· Annex D – Pre Hearing Checklist

· Annex E – Hearing Procedure

Implications

Financial

Not applicable to this report.

Human Resources (HR)

Not applicable to this report.

Equalities

The Equality Act 2010 places specific duties on Local Authorities.  Having a clear and concise Code of Conduct and procedures which aid the process and prohibits unlawful discrimination gives the public confidence in Members and the Council as a whole.

Legal

As detailed within the report.

Crime and Disorder, Information Technology and Property

Not applicable to this report.

Recommendations

Members are asked to consider whether a review of the procedures is required now and if so, how this review will be conducted.

Author: Rachel Antonelli Head of Democratic Governance & Deputy Monitoring Officer	Chief Officer Responsible for the report: Janie Berry Director of Governance & Monitoring Officer Tel:  01904 555385
Tel:  01904 551043
	Report Approved	✓	Date	14/09/2021
Specialist Implications Officer(s):
Wards Affected:  List wards or tick box to indicate all					All	X
For further information please contact the author of the report

Background Papers:

Annex A – Complaints Procedure

Annex B -  Assessment Criteria

Annex C – Pre Hearing Procedure

Annex D – Pre Hearing Checklist

Annex E – Hearing Procedure