Agenda item

Under the provisions of the Localism Act 2011, the Authority was required to appoint at least one Independent Person to assist the Authority in promoting and maintaining high standards of conduct amongst all Members. The Independent Persons had to be consulted on the decision to investigate complaints and before making a decision on an investigated complaint.  The Independent Persons may also be consulted on other standard matters, including by the Member who is subject to an allegation.

The Authority had previously appointed Mrs Joan Carr and Mr Robert Ashworth to be Independent Persons for a term of 4 years ending at the Authority AGM in July 2016. As both were ineligible to stand for reappointment the Authority had sought applications to fill the vacancies and the Monitoring Officer and the Chair of Audit Resources and Performance Committee had interviewed suitable candidates. The Monitoring Officer confirmed that there had been a significant number of good quality and experienced candidates and following the interviews Philip Sunderland and Jean Walker had been identified by the interview panel as suitable for appointment.

RESOLVED:

1.           To appoint Philip Sunderland and Jean Walker as Independent Persons for a term of office of 4 years ending at the AGM in 2020.

2.           To ask the Chair to thank Joan Carr and Robert Ashworth for their contribution to the work of the Authority as members of the Standards Committee and Independent Persons.