Terms of Reference for the Standards and Complaints Committee

Constitution

The Committee consists of four Authority Members and two “independent persons”.  A quorum is three members (including at least one “independent person”) present for its duration.

The “independent persons” shall not be members or officers of the Fire and Rescue Authority, nor have been so for the last five years.  Nor may they be members or officers of a principal authority in Stoke-on-Trent or Staffordshire.

If a person is a relative or close friend of a member or officer of the authority, they cannot be appointed as an independent person.

The “independent persons” will be entitled to vote at meetings of this committee.
Terms of Reference

To promote and maintain a high standard of conduct by Members; to oversee the Registers of Members Interests; and to oversee the effectiveness of the Authority’s procedures for investigating and responding to complaints about Members.

To advise the Authority on the adoption or revision of the Members’ Code of Conduct, and any protocols affecting members.

To assist Members to observe the Code and any protocols.

To advise, train, or arrange to train Members on matters relating to the Code.

To monitor the operation of the Code and any protocols.

To grant dispensations to Members from requirements relating to interests set out in the Code.

To consider and as necessary convene and conduct a hearing in relation to any reports from a case tribunal or an interim case tribunal and any report from the Monitoring Officer on any matter which is referred by an Ethical Standards Officer to the Monitoring Officer, or by the Monitoring Officer direct following a local investigation into an alleged breach of the Code or any protocol.

To act as the “final” stage in the Authority’s complaints procedure, for the general public should complainants wish to refer an officer’s decision at a prior stage to members.
Delegated Powers

Full delegated power to act within its scope.

Reporting to:

Minutes go to the Fire Authority.

Frequency of Meetings

The Committee will be calendared 3 times each year but will meet as and when necessary.

(Established by the Authority on 16 July 2004 and amended in June 2005.)

Members:

Rigby, A. City Ind Alliance
Sutton, D. Lib Dem
Bernard, J. Con
Lamb, Mrs K. Con
Reade, R. Con
Foulkes, L. (Mrs)Vice Chairman Ind
Stemp, H.Chairman Ind
Breen, K. (Mrs) Ind