Standards Committee

What is the role of the Standards Committee?

The Standards Committee operates to guide East Riding of Yorkshire Council, and town and parish councils within the East Riding area, on the promotion of high standards of conduct by members.

The main functions of the Standards Committee are to:

• consider complaints that the conduct of a councillor* has failed to comply with the code of conduct adopted by their council and to determine whether or not those complaints should be investigated
• make arrangements under which members’ conduct can be investigated
• make arrangements under which decisions on allegations about members’ conduct can be made, following the completion of an investigation.

 * Reference to councillor includes members of town and parish councils.

The Standards Committee, in conjunction with the Monitoring Officer, will provide advice and training for members of East Riding of Yorkshire Council and town and parish councils within the East Riding area.

Standards Hearing Committee

A Hearing Committee will be arranged to determine complaints that have been referred for investigation where it is considered that a breach of the code of conduct has been established.

The committee's full terms of reference and delegated functions can be viewed in the council's constitution.

More information about the Standards Hearing Committee can be found on the Standards Hearing Committee page.

What is the role of the independent person?

In accordance with the Localism Act 2011, the council has appointed one independent person (Ms Christine Bainton).

The independent person must be consulted before the Standards Committee or Hearing Committee makes a decision on a complaint that has been investigated.

The independent person will be in attendance at meetings of the Standards Committee or Hearing Committee when a decision is to be made on a complaint that has been investigated.

The independent person is not a member of the Standards Committee and does not have voting rights. 

The council has also chosen to appoint one reserve independent person (Mr Geoff Ogden) in the event that the independent person is unable to participate in the process.

Who sits on the committees?

Standards Committee

Membership of the Standards Committee is as follows: 

East Riding of Yorkshire Council members (voting)

Conservative

Councillor Dennis
Councillor Gateshill
Councillor West, K

Named substitutes: Councillors Healing, Medini and Wilkinson

Independent

Councillor Jeffreys, D

Named substitute: Councillor Jefferson

Liberal Democrat

Councillor Davison

Named substitute: Councillor Healy

Yorkshire

Councillor Norman

Named substitute: Councillor A Walker

 Independent members (non-voting) 

• Ms Ros Aitchison
  
• Mrs Margaret Stevenson  
• Mr David Waxman

Parish council representatives (non-voting)

• Mrs B Mendham
  
• Mr G Pile
  

• Mr G Ohikere

Who chairs meetings?

The chairmanship is rotated around the East Riding of Yorkshire Council members.

When are meetings?

Meetings take place on the following dates:Tuesday

Are meetings open to the public?

Yes. Meetings are open to the public but there may be some matters which will be considered in private. During such situations, members of the public will be asked to leave the meeting at this point. The circumstances under which we can consider matters in private are tightly controlled by law.

Seating in the public gallery at meetings is limited, therefore places must be booked in advance by contacting the Committee Manager on the contact details below. 

Meetings can also be accessed via the council's committee YouTube channel where meetings can be viewed live, or at a later date. 

Refreshments

Please note: refreshments are not normally available for members of the public to access at meetings.

Can I record, film, take photographs or use social media during meetings?

Yes, new legislation means that you can film, record, take photos and use social media during open parts of meetings. For more information please visit the photography, filming and social media use page.

Can members of the public speak at meetings?

No. Members of the public are not permitted to ask questions at Standards Committee meetings.

How and when can I view agendas and minutes?

Agendas

Agendas and reports for the Standards Committee are placed on public deposit five clear working days before each meeting and can be viewed by selecting the relevant agenda below.

Reports containing exempt or confidential matters will not, however, be available.

Minutes

Minutes of Standards Committee and Hearing Committee meetings are placed on public deposit no later than five clear working days after each meeting and can be viewed by selecting the relevant minutes below.

Please note: agendas and minutes of meetings prior to those available online may be obtained by contacting the committee manager, Julie Lidster:

Email:  julie.lidster@eastriding.gov.uk
Tel: (01482) 393211

East Riding of Yorkshire Council
Democratic Services
County Hall
Cross Street
Beverley
HU17 9BA.

Where can I view a summary of complaints considered by the Standards Committee?

The summary of complaints considered by the Standards Committee can be viewed below:

Summary of complaints considered 2021/22 (pdf 150kb)

Summary of investigations determined 2021/22 (pdf 70kb)

Summary of complaints considered 2020/21 (pdf 227kb)

Summary of investigations determined 2020/21 (pdf 181kb)

Summary of complaints considered 2019/20 (pdf 340kb)

Summary of investigations determined 2019/20 - Nil

Summary of complaints considered 2018/19 (excel 35kb)

Summary of investigations determined 2018/19 (excel 33kb)

What is the code of conduct?

The council is required to adopt a code dealing with the conduct that is expected of members and co-opted members of the authority when they are acting in that capacity. On the 6 October 2021 the council adopted a revised code of conduct for councillors. 

Town and parish councils have the option to adopt East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s code of conduct. Some town and parish councils have chosen to do this, some have chosen to adopt their own code. Copies of your town or parish council's code of conduct can be obtained by contacting the clerk to the town or parish council.

The revised code can be downloaded as a PDF via the link below:

East Riding of Yorkshire Council Member Code of Conduct (October 2021) (pdf 185kb)

What is the register of interests and where can I see it?

The register of interests is a document that allows anyone to view details of any interests that could potentially result in a conflict of interest in a councillor's duties.

Councillors are obliged, by law, to keep their register entry up-to-date and to inform the council's monitoring officer of any changes within 28 days. 

To view a ward councillor's register of interests please visit the ward councillors page.

To view a parish or town councillor's register of interests please visit the Parish councillors' register of interests directory.

How do I make a complaint against a councillor or member of a committee?

Report a complaint against a councillor or member of a committee

Alternatively, you can send your complaint by the following means:

Email: standards@eastriding.gov.uk

In writing to:

The Monitoring Officer
Head of Legal and Democratic Services
East Riding of Yorkshire Council
County Hall
Cross Street
Beverley
East Riding of Yorkshire
HU17 9BA.

Please note: The Standards Committee is only able to consider complaints about the conduct of individual councillors when they are acting in their 'official capacity' (ie when they are acting as a councillor).  The committee has no legal authority to consider the following complaints:-

• A complaint about the actions of a individual when they are acting in their private capacity.  Just because someone is/is known to be a councillor does not mean that they are always acting as such.  For example, the committee would be unable to consider a complaint about an individual who is known to be a Councillor but does not refer to themselves as such, or does not refer to council business, and who swears at someone in the street and/or attempts to push them.  Such a complaint could, however, be made to the police.  
• A complaint about a decision taken by a whole council or committee, including whether a set of minutes from a previous meeting were an accurate reflection of the decisions taken at that meeting.  Any complaint about a decision of a council or committee as a whole should be raised with the council concerned.
• A complaint about the behaviour of a member of staff (such as the actions of a town or parish council clerk).  Such a complaint should be addressed to the employing town or parish council.

What happens when a complaint is received about a councillor’s conduct?

The process and procedures followed once a complaint has been made can be viewed below:

Standards Committee process and procedures (pdf 203kb)

Where can I view code of conduct training for parish and town councillors and clerks?

A training session for town and parish councillors and clerks in respect of the code of conduct took place remotely via Zoom on 22 June 2022.  The training slides and a recording of the session are available below:

Code of conduct training slides 22 June 2022 (pdf 725kb)

If you have any questions arising from the training please email standards@eastriding.gov.uk.