Councils ‘not prepared for new code of conduct’

28 Jun 12
The Committee on Standards in Public Life has warned that many local authorities are not ready for the new standards regime that takes effect for councillors next week.

By Vivienne Russell | 28 June 2012

The Committee on Standards in Public Life has warned that many local authorities are not ready for the new standards regime that takes effect for councillors next week.

In a letter sent to Communities Secretary Eric Pickles, committee chair Sir Christopher Kelly drew attention to the findings of a snapshot survey conducted in early June. This found that almost half of councils had not yet adopted the new code of conduct for councillors, and around four-fifths had not appointed an independent person to scrutinise standards arrangements.

Kelly said: ‘The reliance of the new arrangements on relatively modest sanctions and significantly reduced independence input already carries inherent risks. These risks will be compounded unless leaders and elected mayors implement the new arrangements in a timely and effective manner.

‘Unless local authorities have independent persons in place and they are seen to be effective, the new system will lack credibility and is unlikely to command public confidence.’

He added that guidance and training and the application of appropriate sanctions when standards were breached were all ‘crucial’.

Kelly was backed by Clive Betts, chair of the communities and local government select committee, who urged councils to adopt a code of conduct for councillors as a matter of urgency.

Betts said: ‘l also support the call he makes for all local authorities to appoint effective, independent local people to provide opinions on cases of misconduct they have to investigate, since, without such people in place, the new system will lack credibility and is unlikely to command public confidence.’

The Standards Board, which regulated councillor conduct, was scrapped by the Localism Act, which received Royal Assent in November. The coalition government said the watchdog had become bogged down dealing with petty and malicious complaints. The new regime comes into force on July 1. It is based on a new code of conduct based on the seven ‘Nolan principles’ of public life, the involvement of an independent person in allegations of misconduct, a register of members’ pecuniary interests, and a new criminal offence for failing to declare or register pecuniary interests.

Local government minister Bob Neill said: ‘Our reforms take a tough stance on council corruption by making serious misconduct a criminal offence. This will be accompanied by the sunlight of transparency on financial and union interests. Such reforms will give local people the confidence that councillors are putting local residents’ interests first.’

Spacer

CIPFA logo

PF Jobsite logo

Did you enjoy this article?

AddToAny

Top