Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Governance Group on the information to be included on the Cheshire East website.

The Committee considered a report on introducing a website presence for the Standards Committee.  The website was seen as a valuable way of communicating with the public.  The report proposed that various details be included on the website including:

• Names of Standards Committee Members including Independent and Parish Members;
• Details about Independent and Parish Member recruitment and their role;
• Complaints form and guidance;
• Information on the Monitoring Officer including their role;
• The Committee’s Terms of Reference.

The Standards Board for England had stressed the importance of raising the profile and understanding of the work of Standards Committees.

Members discussed the proposals in the report and ways in which current Local Authorities promoted the work of their Standards Committee including producing leaflets and through Local Democracy Week.  It was felt that various media should be used alongside the website.

RESOLVED:  That

1.         the Standards Committee be promoted on the Cheshire East website with information including:

• Names of Independent and Parish Members;
• Details about Independent and Parish Member recruitment and the role they play on the Committee;
• The Committee’s Terms of Reference;
• A Frequently Asked Questions section giving details about what the Committee does and the powers it has;
• Information on how complaints against Members can be made including a Complainant Form and Guidance;
• Information on who the Monitoring Officer is and the role played within the Council;
• A guide to the Code of Conduct;
• Information on the Standards Board for England;
• Useful links to external sources that relate to the Standards Committee;

2.         The Interim Monitoring Officer be authorised to organise the relevant web pages and inclusion on the Cheshire East Website;

3.      The Interim Monitoring Officer investigate the provision of information about the Standards Committee in a variety of media through liaison with the Communications’ Team;

4.     The Interim Monitoring Officer develop a procedure for Members of the Standards Committee to use if a direct approach is made;

5.      Ways of promoting the Standards Committee be further discussed at the Training Event in February.