Chester City Council - Ethics and Standards Annual Report 2005/06

Local Determinations of Complaints

The Council dealt with its first local determination of a complaint.  This related to three Parish Councillors at Dunham Hill and Hapsford Parish Council.  All three Councillors were found to have breached the Code.  They were required to undergo training.  The full written decision in this case can be seen on the Council’s website under Local Determination.  This determination and the Local Investigations referred to below, required a significant amount of officer and councillor time.  Prevention is therefore a much more efficient use of resources.

Local Investigations

The Council conducted its first local investigation this year.  This related to a complaint in respect of a Beeston Parish Councillor.  The Committee accepted the Investigator’s report that there had not been a breach of the Code of Conduct in this case.

Second parish Representative Appointment

Parish Councillor Brian Kerr joined the Committee as the second Parish Council representative.  A second representative was needed to ensure Parish Council Local Determinations could be dealt with by a properly constituted panel of members.

Independent Members Selection

Jack McGarva’s term as independent member ended in May 2006.  Following advertisement and interviews, Jack was re-appointed as the independent member for a further four years.

Review of the Code of Conduct

The Committee made comments to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister on the review of the Councillors Code of Conduct.  The Government’s implementation of changes as a result of that review is now awaited.

Parish Council Toolkit

All Parish Councils have been notified of the Association of Council Secretaries and Solicitors publishing a “Parish Council Toolkit”.  This is to help Parish Clerks and Parish Councils on a wide range of governance issues. 

Annual Assembly of Standards Committee

The 4th Annual Assembly of Standards Committees was held on 5/6 September.  The event was attended by the Chair of the Ethics & Standards Committee and the Council’s Monitoring Officer.  Many of the issues raised assisted the Council in dealing with its Local Determination and Local Investigation.  The Council’s Monitoring Officer has been invited to address the 5th Annual Assembly in October 2006 on “Holding an Effective Hearing”.

Parish Partnership Event

The Council’s Deputy Monitoring Officer and members of the Committee attended the Parish Partnership event on 27 October to raise awareness of the Parish Council Code of Conduct and related ethical standards of issue.  The event was well attended and there was a positive feedback from the Parish Councils.

Induction for New City Councillors and Training for Parish Councillors

Induction on the Code of Conduct was offered to all new City Councillors elected during the year.  The Council will continue to provide this training and look to offer training to Parish Councillors.

Statement by Chester City Council’s Ethics and Standards Committee – April 2006

There has been one reference made by the Standards Board for England to the Monitoring Officer to investigate a complaint and there has been one reference by the Standards Board for England to the Ethics and Standards Committee to locally determine an investigated complaint in the year 2005/2006.

 If you would like any more information about this Annual Report, or have any comments on it and how it might be improved, please contact Charles Kerry, Monitoring Officer and Solicitor to the Council on 01244 402118 or at ethicsandstandards@chester.gov.uk  or at The Forum, Chester CH1 2HS.