This resource is from the Committees section. This section contains information about the Standards Committee, with meeting agendas, reports and minutes.

Sections available here:

• Standards Committee
  • Meeting agendas, reports and minutes
  • Terms of reference

Standards Committee

• List of members
  Members of the Standards Committee.
• Reports list
  For a complete titles list of all reports presented to the Standards Committee.
• Future committee meeting dates
  Advanced notice of all committee meetings.

Meeting agendas, reports and minutes

• 10 April 2008

Archive of previous years' meetings

• Archive of previous years' meeting agendas, reports and minutes

Terms of reference

1. To promote and maintain high standards of conduct by members of the Authority.

2. To advise the Authority on the adoption or revision of its code of conduct.

3. To monitor the operation of the Authority’s code of conduct.

4. To assist Members in observing the code of conduct, including arrangements for training on matters relating to the code of conduct.

5. To advise the Authority on liaison arrangements with the Standards Board for England and to consider reports from the Standards Board or the Monitoring Officer as appropriate on any investigations into allegations of member misconduct.

6. To deal with any reports from a case tribunal and any report from the Monitoring Officer on any matter referred by an Ethical Standards Officer to the Monitoring Officer. This will include exercising the statutory powers given to standards committees to determine appropriate cases of alleged misconduct and to decide on a penalty in such cases as are found to be proven.

7. In accordance with any statutory requirements, to monitor and advise the Authority on compliance with the requirements for registration of interests and registers of gifts and hospitality.

8. To consider and determine requests to grant a member a dispensation in the following circumstances:

1. The transaction of business of the Authority would, on each occasion on which the dispensation would apply, otherwise be impeded by, or as a result of, the mandatory provisions because
   1. The number of members of the Authority that are prohibited from participating in the business of the Authority exceeds 50% of those members that are entitled or required to so participate; or
   2. The Authority is not able to comply with any duty which applies to it under section 15 (4) of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989;
2. The member has submitted to the Standards Committee a written request for a dispensation explaining why it is desirable;
3. Unless the Committee has specified a shorter duration, any dispensation so granted shall lapse after four years.

9. To have due regard, in exercising the committee’s responsibilities, to equal opportunities generally, the general duty of the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 and the requirements of any other equalities legislation.

The following pages on the MPA website are relevant:

• List of members
  Members of the Standards Committee.
• Reports list
  For a complete titles list of all reports presented to the Standards Committee.
• Future committee meeting dates
  Advanced notice of all committee meetings.
• Archive of previous years' meetings
  Contains information about previous years Standards Committee meeting agendas, reports and minutes.
• Information on the rights of members of the public to attend meetings
• Map of MPA location