1. Membership
1.1 Nine members of the Council, including the Vice-Chair of Council, who shall chair the committee. The Vice-Chair of the Constitution and Ethics Committee shall be elected by the committee.
2. Hearings Sub-Committees
2.1 The Monitoring Officer in consultation with the Chair of Constitution and Ethics Committee shall appoint, as and when necessary, hearings sub-committees to consider and determine complaints against county councillors alleging that they have breached the Members’ Code of Conduct.
2.2 In relation to the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA), where a complaint may relate to a member in their capacity as a Member of Cambridgeshire County Council, the CPCA Monitoring Officer will consult with the Council’s Monitoring Officer. If the complaint could be considered under one or more authorities’ member conduct procedures then the Monitoring Officers may agree that one authority will lead on the complaint and deal with it in accordance with their procedure. The CPCA Monitoring Officer is authorised on behalf of the Combined Authority to agree with the Council’s Monitoring Officer that it can deal with a complaint on behalf of the Authority. If an agreement is not reached then the Council’s Monitoring Officer will consider whether to undertake an investigation separately to any other investigation being undertaken at CPCA.
2.3 Hearings sub-committees shall comprise three members of the Constitution and Ethics Committee including either the Chair or Vice-Chair. The membership of the sub-committee shall, as far as practicable, be politically proportionate.
3. Delegated Authorities
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Delegated Authority |
Delegation / Condition |
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Authority to oversee the operation of the Council’s Constitution and authority to make recommendations to Full Council as to amendments and improvements to the Council’s Constitution, including the codes and protocols. |
Subject to the receipt and consideration of a report prepared by the Monitoring Officer |
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Authority to hear and determine complaints against members alleging breaches of the Members’ Code of Conduct. |
Delegated to Hearings Sub-Committee |
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Authority to issue a sanction against a member found to be in breach. |
Delegated to Hearings Sub-Committee |
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Authority to oversee and approve the operation of the Council’s functions relating to the promotion and maintenance of high standards of conduct amongst members and co-opted members of the County Council including: (i) Approving and issuing guidance to members; (ii) Making recommendations to Full Council regarding the suggested amendment of the Members’ Code of Conduct; (iii) Approving training to be provided to members in the Code of Conduct; (iv) Monitoring the operation of the Code of Conduct. |
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Authority to approve the granting, to any County Council employee, of a dispensation in relation to disqualification from political activities. |
Local Government and Housing Act 1989 |
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Authority to select and to appoint persons as members of the County Council’s Independent Remuneration Panel. |
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Authority to select and recommend to Council persons for appointment as an Independent Person. |
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Authority to receive and approve proposals regarding the Council’s exercise of powers covered by the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act. |
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Authority to issue dispensations to any member in respect of statutory and non-statutory disclosable interests. |
Delegated to Monitoring Officer |
[Chapter D12 (Constitution and Ethics Committee) was last amended on 10 February 2026]
A PDF version of this chapter is available to view or download on the CMIS section of the Council’s website, along with a PDF version of the full constitution.
