Councillor Conduct

The Standards Committee will investigate allegations that Councillors have not behaved in an appropriate way. It is responsible for promoting high ethical standards. Its work is important to everyone who cares about the maintenance of an open and honest system of local governance.

Personal and Prejudicial Interests

Whenever the Members' Code of Conduct is under discussion inevitably questions will arise in relation to the twin issues of personal and prejudicial interests. Please read out leaflet The Model Code of Conduct - An Explanatory Leaflet Relating to Personal and Prejudicial Interests (PDF, 71KB) for more details on this. 

The Standards Committee

The Standards Committee (PDF, 172KB).

1. Establishment of the Committee

Part III of the Local Government Act 2000 requires the Council to establish a Standards Committee.

2. Composition

2.1. The Standards Committee will be composed of:

2.1.1. 8 Councillors

2.1.2. 5 Statutory Independent Members, who will be entitled to vote at meetings, but who are not Councillors or officers of the Council;

2.1.3. 3 Parish Members. At least one Parish Member must be presentwhen matters relating to Parish Councils or their Members are being considered;

2.2. A Member of the Cabinet may not chair the Standards Committee.

3. Role and Functions

The Committee will be responsible for

• discharging the Council’s functions under Part III of the Local Government Act 2000;
• considering and granting, or otherwise, dispensations in respect of Members’ Interests when so enabled under Part III of the Local Government Act 2000;
• promoting high standards of ethical behaviour by developing, maintaining and monitoring codes of Conduct for Members of the Council (including Co-opted Members and other persons acting in a similar capacity) and for employees in accordance with best practice and Government guidance;
• advising the Council on the adoption or revision of the Codes of Conduct for Members and Officers;
• ensuring that Members receive advice and training as appropriate on the Members’ Code of Conduct;
• issuing advice to Members on the treatment of personal interests and on conduct matters generally;
• ensuring that the Council maintains appropriate links with the Standards Board for England and the Commission for Local Administration in England (Ombudsman);
• referring issues, which impinge on staff conduct, performance, terms of employment, training and development to the appropriate and responsible Executive Member and/or Manager;
• promoting high standards of responsiveness by the Council to its clients and contacts
  (a) advising other persons/bodies on probity and ethics as appropriate, particularly where that person or body is exercising functions on behalf of the Council; and
  (b) supporting the Council's statutory officers as appropriate or their authorised deputies, in the performance of their duties.

4. Standards Sub-Committees

The Standards Committee has appointed three sub-committees to deal with its local assessment and review functions. Further details are set out in Part 3 of the Cheshire East Council Constitution (PDF, 1.7MB).