PART 4LOCAL AUTHORITY EXECUTIVES, MEMBERS, OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES

Conduct of members

62Duties of leaders of political groups in relation to standards of conduct

1

The 2000 Act is amended as follows.

2

After section 52 insert—

52ACounty and county borough councils: duties of leaders of political groups in relation to standards of conduct

1

A leader of a political group consisting of members of a county council or county borough council in Wales—

a

must take reasonable steps to promote and maintain high standards of conduct by the members of the group, and

b

must co-operate with the council’s standards committee (and any sub-committee of the committee) in the exercise of the standards committee’s functions.

2

In complying with subsection (1), a leader of a political group must have regard to any guidance about the functions under that subsection issued by the Welsh Ministers.

3

The Welsh Ministers may by regulations make provision for the purposes of this section about the circumstances in which—

a

members of a county council or county borough council in Wales are to be treated as constituting a political group;

b

a member of a political group is to be treated as a leader of the group.

4

Before making regulations under subsection (3), the Welsh Ministers must consult such persons as they think appropriate.

3

In section 54 (functions of standards committees), after subsection (2) insert—

2A

A standards committee of a county council or county borough council in Wales also has the specific functions of—

a

monitoring compliance by leaders of political groups on the council with their duties under section 52A(1), and

b

advising, training or arranging to train leaders of political groups on the council about matters relating to those duties.

4

In section 106 (Wales: orders and regulations)—

a

omit subsection (5);

b

in subsection (7) after “section 21G” insert “or regulations under section 52A(3)”.

5

In the 2013 Act, omit section 68(4)(a).

6

In this Act, omit section 63(2).