Part III Conduct of local government members and employees
Chapter I Conduct of members
Standards committees
53 Standards committees.
(1)
Subject to subsection (2), every relevant authority must establish a committee (referred to in this Part as a standards committee) which is to have the functions conferred on it by or under this Part.
(2)
Subsection (1) does not apply to a parish council or community council.
(3)
F1The number of members of a standards committee of a relevant authority in England or a police authority in Wales and their term of office are to be fixed by the authority (subject to any provision made by virtue of subsection (6)(a)).
(4)
F1A standards committee of a relevant authority in England or a police authority in Wales must include—
(a)
at least two members of the authority, and
(b)
at least one person who is not a member, or an officer, of that or any other relevant authority,
F2and must be chaired by a person falling within paragraph (b)
.
F2(5)
F1A standards committee of a relevant authority in England which are operating executive arrangements—
(a)
may not include the elected mayor or executive leader, and
(b)
may not be chaired by a member of the executive.
(6)
F1The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision—
(a)
as to the size and composition of standards committees of relevant authorities in England and police authorities in Wales,
(b)
as to the appointment to such committees of persons falling within subsection (4)(b),
(c)
with respect to the access of the public to meetings of such committees,
(d)
with respect to the publicity to be given to meetings of such committees,
(e)
with respect to the production of agendas for, or records of, meetings of such committees,
(f)
with respect to the availability to the public or members of relevant authorities of agendas for, records of or information connected with meetings of such committees,
(g)
as to the proceedings and validity of proceedings of such committees.
(7)
F1The Standards Board for England—
(a)
may issue guidance with respect to the size and composition of standards committees of relevant authorities in England and police authorities in Wales, and
(b)
must send a copy of any such guidance to the Secretary of State.
(8)
F1A member of a standards committee of a relevant authority in England or a police authority in Wales who is not a member of the authority is entitled to vote at meetings of the committee.
(9)
F1A relevant authority in England and a police authority in Wales must send a statement which sets out the terms of reference, or any revised terms of reference, of their standards committee to the Standards Board for England.
(10)
F1A standards committee of a relevant authority in England or a police authority in Wales is not to be regarded as a body to which section 15 of the M1Local Government and Housing Act 1989 (duty to allocate seats to political groups) applies.
(11)
The National Assembly for Wales may by regulations make provision—
(a)
as to the size and composition of standards committees of relevant authorities in Wales other than police authorities (including provision with respect to the appointment to any such committee of persons who are not members of the relevant authority concerned),
(b)
as to the term of office of members of any such committees,
(c)
as to the persons who may, may not or must chair any such committees,
(d)
as to the entitlement to vote of members of any such committee who are not members of the relevant authority concerned,
(e)
for or in connection with treating any such committees as bodies to which section 15 of the M2Local Government and Housing Act 1989 does not apply,
(f)
with respect to the access of the public to meetings of such committees,
(g)
with respect to the publicity to be given to meetings of such committees,
(h)
with respect to the production of agendas for, or records of, meetings of such committees,
(i)
with respect to the availability to the public or members of relevant authorities of agendas for, records of or information connected with meetings of any such committees,
(j)
as to the proceedings and validity of proceedings of any such committees,
(k)
for or in connection with requiring relevant authorities in Wales (other than police authorities) to send to F3the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales statements which set out the terms of reference of their standards committees.
(12)
The provision which may be made by virtue of subsection (6)(c) to (f) or (11)(f) to (i) includes provision which applies or reproduces (with or without modifications) any provisions of Part VA of the Local Government Act 1972.