Grab your chance to take part in key Council watchdog

 

Are you interested in helping to ensure that all Cheshire East councillors uphold the highest ethical standards? 

Cheshire East Council is seeking to recruit three local people, who live or work in the Borough, as ‘independent persons’ to work with the authority’s ad-hoc standards committee.

The body will be a sub-committee of the Council’s Audit and Governance Committee.

The Localism Act 2011 places a duty on councils to promote and maintain high standards of conduct for elected and co-opted members. This includes the requirement to adopt a new Code of Conduct for members.

The Act requires that the Council also adopts arrangements for dealing with complaints of breaches of the Code of Conduct by Councillors or co-opted members of Cheshire East Council and the town and parish councils in its area. This must include provision for the appointment of at least one ‘independent person’ who will be consulted on the complaints.

Councillor Les Gilbert, Cabinet member for corporate policy, said: “We are looking for three people living or working in the Borough with a keen interest in democracy and the workings of a local authority.

“The way our members conduct themselves is of interest to many. We want this process to be an open one, therefore it is important that local people, who are independent of the Council, should be included.

“I look forward to the formation of this sub-committee in the coming weeks.”

The term of office for the successful candidates will be four years, with the ad hoc standards sub-committee meeting only as required.

Members of the sub-committee will be able to claim back their travel expenses.

To ensure independence, there are certain restrictions as to who can apply for this position – for example applicants must not be politically active or have any relationship with councillors, the Council or any of its employees. 

To check if you are eligible to apply or for an application pack, please contact Cheshire

East Council’s Borough Solicitor Caroline Elwood by phone: on 01270 686 882; by email: caroline.elwood@cheshireeast.gov.uk or by post at:

Caroline Ellwood

Cheshire East Council

Westfields

Middlewich Road

Sandbach

CW11 1HZ

The closing date for applications is Monday, June 25, 2012.