Woolas publishes paper to support development of good conduct

Date published: 15/12/2005

More devolved decision making, continuing support and guidance on roles and responsibilities, and consistent public confidence in standards of conduct - this was the vision for the future of the local government conduct regime set out today by Local Government Minister Phil Woolas.

A Discussion Paper has been published incorporating the Government's response to a number of recent recommendations, with the aim of promoting good conduct, and confidence in, local authorities.

Local Government Minister Phil Woolas said:

"Public confidence in the conduct of local authorities is paramount, so it is critical that councils are given appropriate responsibilities and the right tools in order to be able to manage the conduct of councillors and officers alike.  The Discussion Paper acknowledges the significant efforts of the Graham Committee, the ODPM Select Committee and the Standards Board for England, and seeks to progress the development of the local government conduct regime.

"We've considered carefully the recommendations put to us, and our view is that a locally based process for considering misconduct allegations against local government members, along the lines suggested by the Graham Committee, would be the most appropriate way of addressing local issues and ensuring local ownership of standards.

"Our aim is to ensure that a culture of good conduct persists in local government, and to put in place strategic support to enable councillors and local standards committees to manage conduct issues effectively. For this reason, we are convinced there is an essential, continuing role for the Standards Board in supporting high standards locally. At the same time, we all want to see a code of conduct which is clearer, simpler and more proportionate, but still rigorous and fair to all involved. I am grateful therefore to the Standards Board for its hard work in reviewing the code and making recommendations for amendments to it. "

The Discussion Paper proposes the following principal changes to current arrangements:

Conduct regime for local councillors

• Initial assessment of all misconduct allegations to be undertaken by standards committees, rather than the Standards Board;
• Local standards committees to be responsible for investigating and determining most cases;
• The Standards Board to adopt a more strategic, advisory and monitoring role, but retaining responsibility for investigating the most serious misconduct allegations;
• Improvements to the operation and composition of local standards committees, with independent chairs and committees to include independent members with a balance of experience;
• A clearer, simpler code of conduct, including changes to the rules relating to personal and prejudicial interests. These amendments will include changes allowing a councillor who is also a member of another public body to speak at meetings dealing with issues affecting that body, but not vote; rather than, as now, being required to withdraw
  from the meeting. This change will support members' advocacy role.

Conduct regime for local government employees

• Issue a code of conduct for local government employees;
• Retain the current principle that senior and sensitive posts should be politically restricted, but to ensure that only the most senior and sensitive posts are covered;
• Discontinue the post of the Independent Adjudicator, and provide for authorities' standards committees to make decisions on posts exempt from restrictions;
• Uprate the current rate of pay for political assistants by Statutory Instrument, and provide for future increases to be permanently linked to local government pay scales.