Select Committee on Office of the Deputy Prime Minister: Housing, Planning, Local Government and the Regions Written Evidence


Memorandum by the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (STA 07)

  The Standards Board have been very effective in promoting the Code of Conduct. Initially they conducted roadshows throughout England and in the last two years have held annual conferences to bring together those affected by the Code of Conduct.

  The Royal Borough's experience of the way the Standards Board handles complaints is a positive one. However, there has been negative publicity about inordinate delays in progressing complaints. This problem has not been helped by the fact that all complaints must go to the Standards Board initially rather than to local Standards Committees. If local Standards Committees are empowered to receive and vet complaints initially then refer the more serious ones to the Standards Board this would ease the current problem.

  The Standards Board for England has had a good relationship with the Royal Borough to date. In particular, the quantity and quality of information disseminated to local Councils is encouraging. Leaflets on declaring interests; training video and various guidance notes have been issued.

  With changes in legislation the Standards Board for England is now able to refer complaints to Monitoring Officers for hearing by local Standards Committees and this would further strengthen the relationship between the two bodies.

  Members of the public generally feel reluctant to refer complaints to the Standards Board for England when advised about the procedure. There seems to be a preference to report to the local Standards Committee instead.

 





 
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