Helping to maintain standards of conduct amongst councillors

Archived press release

Date Published: 13/06/12

Aylesbury Vale District Council is looking for two committed individuals to work alongside the committee responsible for promoting and maintaining high standards of conduct amongst elected councillors.

In order to meet the new requirements arising from the Localism Act 2011, which are due to come into effect on 1 July, the district council must appoint two ‘independent persons’, who will play a key role in supporting the work of its standards committee.

Responsibilities will include providing views on reports about members’ conduct, working with the council’s monitoring officer when the council receives complaints about members and attending meetings relating to conduct matters. The independent person’s views may also be sought by a member who is the subject of a complaint.

The council is keen to hear from applicants who have a broad range of experience, preferably in the public, private, voluntary or charitable sector, have independence of mind, objectivity and impartiality, as well as good communication skills.

Joanna Swift, Monitoring Officer, said: “We want to hear from members of the public who enjoy contributing to the community and making a difference and want to ensure that the highest standards of conduct are met in public life. Whilst experience in the public sector of dealing with complaints processes is desirable, your skills in decision making, an ability to be objective and impartial and an interest in upholding high ethical standards will be equally valuable. Training will be given and an allowance is payable.”

The role will include a fixed allowance of £200 per year plus travelling expenses and a discretionary meeting allowance.

The deadline for applications is noon on Friday 29 June. Interviews are scheduled for Thursday 5 July.

To ensure the independence of the role, anyone who is or has within the past five years been a member, co-opted member or an officer of AVDC or any parish council within its area, or who is a relative or close friend of a district or parish councillor, is not eligible to apply.

Further details, including the eligibility criteria and an application form, are available on the council’s website at www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/standardscommittee or by contacting Alice Fisher, Democratic Services Officer, on 01296 585041.