Co-Opted Standards Panel Members

CO-OPTED STANDARDS PANEL MEMBERS
Salary £75 per hearing
Fixed term, 4 years
Closing date 15th January 2024
A role under the Localism Act 2011 to help us maintain high standards of Member Conduct.
We are looking for someone with political awareness but without political affiliations, with a keen interest in local governance and a commitment to high standards and ethics in public life, to act as an Independent Co-opted Standards Panel Member to assist our Monitoring Officer and Independent Person and make recommendations to Full Council on whether the Council’s Member Code of Conduct has been breached and if so recommend a sanction. You must be independent minded but be able to work as part of a team.
The Localism Act 2011 requires Forest of Dean District Council (FODDC) to put in place arrangements to promote and maintain high standards of conduct amongst its Elected Members. These arrangements include a Code of Conduct for Members and a procedure for dealing with complaints about potential failure to comply with this Code of Conduct by Members of FODDC and Parish and Town Councils within the Forest of Dean District.
Our Constitution can be viewed on the following link. The Members Code of Conduct is set out at pages 255 - 265 and arrangements for dealing with complaints at pages 269-268:
meetings.fdean.gov.uk/documents/g4406/Public%20reports%20pack%2030th-Oct-2023%20Constitution.pdf?T=10&Info=1
As part of the arrangements for dealing with complaints under the Localism Act 2011 FODDC has set up a Standards Panel within it’s constitution.
The Standards Panel may be convened for a hearing when an investigation report has been provided to consider an allegation of a breach of the code of conduct. We currently have 3 members and are appointing 2 further members of the panel. The quorum for a hearing panel is 2.
Support will be provided by the Council’s Monitoring Officer, who will arrange any necessary training and provide such information and assistance as is necessary to enable the Co-opted Standards Panel Members to perform their role effectively.
You should live within the Forest of Dean District area and have:
An interest in public service, particularly local government
An interest in local issues
Experience in committee working (preferably)
A high level of personal integrity which inspires public confidence
An ability to work as part of a team and comply with confidentiality requirements
The ability to be objective, open-minded and impartial
Good analytical, communication and interpersonal skills
The term of office is for a 4-year period and there is a fixed allowance for the role of £75 per hearing. The Co-Opted Standards Panel Members will not be employees of the Council and will also be required to comply with the Code of Conduct.
If you are interested in being considered, please send a CV and covering letter (no more than 2 sides of A4) detailing your skills, knowledge and experience that are applicable to the role to:
Sian Roxborough
Monitoring Officer
Forest of Dean District Council
Council Offices,
High Street,
Coleford Glos GL16 8HG
If you wish to have an informal and confidential discussion about the role, please contact Sian Roxborough on 01594 812537 or sian.roxborough@fdean.gov.uk
The closing date for applications is 15th January 2024. A short listing exercise will follow shortly afterwards, with interviews taking place w/c 22nd January 2024. This appointment is then subject to approval at a Full Council meeting.
Finally, please note that any person who within the last five years has been a Member, voting co-opted Member or Officer of either FODDC or a Parish or Town Council in the Forest of Dean District, will not be appointed as a Co-Opted Member of the FODDC Standards Panel. Also, any person who is a relative or close friend of a Member, voting co-opted Member or Officer of FODDC, or a Parish or Town Council in the Forest of Dean District, cannot apply for this role. This is in order to ensure a fair process and hearing. If you are unsure about whether you are eligible to apply for the position, please contact us using the details above to discuss your situation.