To discharge the functions
(other than those which are reserved to Council) as set out in Part
1, Chapter 7 of the Localism Act 2011 including:
1. To
promote and maintain high standards of conduct by Members and
co-opted Members of the District Council and to make
recommendations to Council on improving standards.
2. To
advise and assist Parish/Town Councils and Parish/Town Councillors
to maintain high standards of conduct and to make recommendations
to Parish/Town Councils on improving standards.
3. To
advise the District Council on the adoption of or revisions to its
Members Code of Conduct.
4. To
advise, train or arrange to train District Members, Co-opted
Members and Parish/Town Councillors on matters relating to the
Members Code of Conduct.
5. To
assist District Councillors, Co-opted Members and Parish/Town
Councillors to observe their respective Codes of
Conduct.
6. To
monitor and assess the operation and effectiveness of the Members
Code of Conduct and to review and manage the Arrangements for
dealing with Code of Conduct Complaints.
7. To
maintain oversight of the District Council’s arrangements for
dealing with Code of Conduct complaints.
8. To
monitor and review the procedures for the Register of
Members’ Interests and declaring gifts and
hospitality.
9.
Recommending to Council for approval the terms of any other codes
or protocols relating to matters of conduct, ethics or propriety,
including without limitation the Protocol on Member/Officer
Relations and the Protocol on the Guidance of Planning Committee
Members and Officers and any alterations or amendments
thereto.
10. Receiving the
recommendations of the Constitution Review Working Party Working
and recommending to Council the terms of the Constitution for the
Governance of Thanet District Council
11. To receive quarterly
reports (or less frequently if there are no complaints to report)
from the Monitoring Officer on the number and nature of complaints
received and action taken as a result.
12. To receive an annual
report on the District] Council’s ethical governance
arrangements.
13. To grant
dispensations pursuant to S33(2) of the
Localism Act 2011 where:
13.1
without
the dispensation, the representation of different
political groups on the body transacting the business would be so
upset as to alter the outcome of any vote on the matter.
13.2 that the
authority considers that the dispensation is in the interests of
persons living in its area; or
13.3
where the Committee considers that it is
otherwise appropriate to grant a dispensation.
14. Responsibility for
establishing the following Advisory Sub Committees to carry out the
following functions:-
14.1 A Standards
Assessment Sub Committee with responsibility for making
recommendations to the Monitoring Officer on whether in
relation to a complaint alleging a failure to comply with the
requirements of the Members Code of Conduct no further action
should be taken in respect of the complaint or whether the informal
disputes resolution procedure should be instigated or whether the
complaint should be the subject of an investigation.
14.2 A Standards
Hearings Sub Committee with responsibility for conducting a hearing
into a complaint that has been referred to it by the Monitoring
Officer and for making recommendations to the Monitoring Officer as
to whether there has been a failure by a member to comply with the
requirements of the Members Code of Conduct and if so, what action
should be taken (if any) in respect of such failure.
15. Responsibility for the
overview of the Council’s complaints procedure including
ombudsman investigations.