Ethics and Standards

The government has taken steps to maintain high standards in Councils:

• It has established a body called The Standards Board for England.(external link) The job of the Standards Board is to monitor and maintain standards of conduct in local government. It also employs independent investigators who will examine complaints of misconduct by Councillors
• Every local Councillor in England and Wales, including Parish Councillors must comply with a Code of Conduct.(external link) The Code requires Councillors to treat people fairly, and aside their own interests when conducting Council business. Chester has its own Code of Conduct which can is included in the Council Constitution
• Councillors have to fill in a form which goes in a public Register. The Register can be inspected by anyone, and sets out things like what business a Councillor carries on and what property he/she owns. Registers are kept by the Monitoring Officer. If you want to see the Register for Chester City Council contact the Council's Monitoring Officer at Chester City Council, The Forum, Chester. CH1 2HS. Telephone 01244 402118. Fax 01244 400128. Email: ethicsandstandards@chester.gov.uk
• Every Council has to have a Constitution saying how it works and what its governing rules are. The Council Constitution includes the adopted Code of Conduct , how Councillors and Officers should behave towards each other and, most importantly, how the public can influence Council decisions
• Every Council has an Ethics and Standards Committee. Very briefly, the role of the Ethics and Standards Committee is to:-

 

 

You can learn more about the role of the Ethics and Standards Committee

All Councils are subject to inspections arranged by the by the Audit Commission (external link).  Some of these inspections will be concerned with financial probity and the Council's accounts. Some will be more concerned to see that the Council is providing value for money and conducting its business properly.

Ethics and Standards Annual Report 2003/4

This is a summary of the work done by the Ethics & Standards Committee for the Municipal Year 2002/2003 and also covers work done on Corporate Governance of the City Council generally. Standards Annual Report is available through the council.

Cheshire Monitoring Officers

Each Council in Cheshire has a Monitoring Officer. The Monitoring Officer at this Council is Charles Kerry, Solicitor to the Council. Chester City Council, The Forum, Chester. CH1 2HS. Telephone 01244 402118. Fax 01244 400128.

The Monitoring Officer is responsible for advising the Council on the legality of their decisions and on the conduct of Councillors and Officers. The vast majority of Councils in the UK have high ethical standards and Councillors and staff behave honestly and properly. Part of the job of Monitoring Officers is to promote and encourage high standards of behaviour in Council business.

The Monitoring Officers in Cheshire co-operate to try to achieve consistent standards and advice.

They have worked with the Cheshire Association of Town and Parish Councils, arranging events for parish councillors and clerks where the Code of Conduct and requirements of the new ethical framework have been discussed. If you are a parish councillor or clerk and want to know more about the Cheshire Association of Town and Parish Councils contact Jackie Weaver, Blue Bache Barn, Burleydam, Whitchurch, Shropshire SY14 4AW - Tel/Fax 01948 871314 - Email Jackie Weaver.

The Cheshire Monitoring Officers have also provided seminars and training sessions at their own Councils. If you need to contact any Cheshire Monitoring Officer their names and addresses are as follows:-

• Mr Riddell Graham, Director of Legal Services, Delamere House, Delamere Street, Crewe CW1 2JZ
• Mrs Margaret Ingram, Head of Legal Services, Congleton Borough Council, Westfields, Middlewich Road, Sandbach CW11 3HX
• Mr Jim Bickerton, Borough Sol & Estates Officer, Ellesmere Port & Neston Borough Council, Council Offices, Civic Way, Ellesmere Port L65 OBE
• Mr John Tradewell, Council Solicitor, Halton Borough Council, Municipal Buildings, Kingsway, Widnes WA8 7QF
• Mrs Fiona Crane, Vale Royal Borough Council, Wyvern House, The Drumber, Winsford CW7 1AH
• Mrs Viv Horton, Director of Resources, Macclesfield Borough Council, Town Hall, Macclesfield SK10 1DX
• Mr Howard Norris, Head of Legal Services, Warrington Borough Council, Town Hall, Warrington WA1 1UH
• Mr Gerry Budd, County Solicitor, Cheshire County Council, County Hall, Chester CH1 1SF

If you have a specific complaint that a Councillor has breached the Code of Conduct, that must be made in writing to The Standards Board for England, 1^st Floor, Cottons Centre, Cottons Lane, London SE1 2QL (telephone: 0845 078 8181).