ARE YOU INDEPENDENTLY MINDED?

Cambridgeshire County Council is seeking independent members to serve on its Standards Committee.

The Committee is responsible for advising the Council on the Members Code of Conduct and for dealing with complaints alleging breaches of the Code by members of the Council.

The Standards Committee comprises five County Councillors and three Independent members and meets four times a year during the day. The Committee also has three smaller sub committees which may be required to meet from time to time to consider individual complaints. The Committee and its sub committees are chaired by Independent members.

Independent members cannot have been a member or officer of the Cambridgeshire County Council in the last five years, should not be a close friend or relative of an employee or member of the Council, and should not be linked with any political party.

Councillor Linda Oliver, Vice Chairman of the County Council and member of the Standards Committee emphasised the important role played by the Independent members on the Committee and said: “The Council welcomes the contribution to the work of the Standards Committee made by the Independent members. The presence of Independent members on the Committee is vital if the Committee is to be seen to be acting fairly and objectively when considering complaints against members.”

Professor Christopher Forsyth, one of the Independent members and the current Chairman of the Standards Committee, added: “The County Council is fortunate in that there are few instances of breaches of the Code of Conduct but nevertheless it is important that the Committee with Independent members is in place to advise on the application of the Code of Conduct and to deal with any complaints.”

Independent members are not paid, but receive travelling and subsistence allowances and a flat fee of £50 for each meeting attended.

Anyone with a good grasp of ethical issues and the personal integrity needed for this role should contact Mark Baker, the County Council’s Monitoring Officer, for an application form and more information about the role, on (01223) 699233 or by email at mark.baker@cambridgeshire.gov.uk

The closing date for applications is June 17.

ENDS

Notes for Editors:

For further information, contact: Glenn Thwaites in the Press and Public Relations Office on (01223) 699282.

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