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RUNNYMEDE BOROUGH COUNCIL NEEDS TO ATTRACT INDEPENDENT MEMBERS FOR ITS STANDARDS COMMITTEE

Under the Local Government Act 2000 every local authority must have a Standards Committee, whose functions are centred on promoting and maintaining high standards of conduct by elected Members of the Council, and assisting those Members to observe the authority's Code of Conduct.

The Committee's role includes advising the local authority on the content of the Code of Conduct and keeping an overview of ethical and proprietary issues in the authority.  Standards Committees may also be given other responsibilities, and in Runnymede these include dealing with staff appeals, monitoring Ombudsman investigations, and keeping an overview of the authority's financial and risk management control procedures as reported on by its Auditors.  The Committee in Runnymede is therefore known as the Standards and Audit Committee.

In Runnymede, we are legally obliged to appoint two people who are not Members of the Council to its Standards Committee and we are actively seeking interest and welcoming applications from members of the public who may be interested in participating in such a role.  However, you will not be eligible to do so if you are a relative or close friend of any current Member or Officer of Runnymede Borough Council, if you have served as a Member or Officer at Runnymede within the last five years or if you are a Member of another local authority or any other public body which is required to maintain a Standards Committee under the Local Government Act 2000.

Independent Members of the Standards Committee are entitled to receive a small allowance of £258pa from the Council and this is usually sufficient to cover expenses for attending meetings and other activities connected with their duties.  Meetings usually last for approximately two hours although time may be required beforehand in preparation.  There would be likely to be a minimum of two and a maximum of six meetings per year.

If you are interested on serving on the Committee or would like to receive further information about the role and the qualities required, please contact the Council's Monitoring Officer (address below) for an application form, which must be submitted by 2 April 2007.

A M Pearson, Director of Administration and Leisure, Runnymede Civic Centre, Station Road, Addlestone, Surrey, KT15 2AH Telephone 01932 425600 Andrew.pearson@runnymede.gov.uk