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Standards Committee

Information about the role of the Standards Committee, who sits on it, who chairs the committee, when are the meetings, are meetings open to the public, can members of the public speak, how and when you can view the agenda and minutes, what the code of conduct is, how to make a complaint and what is the process to make a complaint.

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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 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 committee?

Standards Committee

Membership of the Standards Committee is as follows:

East Riding of Yorkshire Council members (voting)

Conservative
  • Councillor Dennis
  • Councillor Healing
  • Substitute: Councillor Wilkinson
  • Substitute: To be confirmed
Independent
  • Councillor Blakeston
  • Substitute: Councillor D Jeffreys
Liberal Democrat
  • Councillor Corless
  • Substitute: Councillor Sutton
Labour
  • Councillor Cantrell
  • Substitute: Councillor Duke
People Not Party
  • Councillor Talbot
  • Substitute: To be confirmed
Reform
  • Councillor Dimberline
  • Substitute: Councillor Howard

Independent members (non-voting)

  • Mrs Margaret Stevenson
  • Melissa Dearey
  • Col Grisdale

Parish council representatives (non-voting)

  • Mr G Ohikere
  • Mr C Burrows
  • Ms K Lakes

Who chairs meetings?

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

When are the meetings?

Meetings take place on the following days: Tuesday

DateTimeVenue*
2026
Tuesday, 31 MarchRescheduled to 27 April
Tuesday, 27 April10.00amCounty Hall, Beverley
Tuesday, 21 JulyCounty Hall, Beverley
Tuesday, 13 OctoberCounty Hall, Beverley
2027
Tuesday, 2 FebruaryCounty Hall, Beverley
Tuesday, 30 MarchCounty Hall, Beverley

Standards Committee meetings

*Public and press attendance at meetings

Seating in the public gallery is limited, therefore places must be booked in advance by contacting the Committee Manager on the contact details below. Members of the public and press are encouraged to view proceedings on the council's committee YouTube channel where the meeting can be viewed live or at a later date.

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?

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

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

2024-25

2023-24

Summary of Investigations Determined 2023-24 - Nil.

2022-23

2021-22

2020/21

2019/20

Summary of investigations determined 2019/20 - Nil

2018/19

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:

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
Director 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 an 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?

When a complaint is submitted about a councillor the complainant will receive an acknowledgement that it has been received by the council.

The monitoring officer will then consider whether the complaint should be accepted (for example, is it about something that is within the jurisdiction of the council to consider or is it about matters outside of the council's remit).

If it is accepted, the monitoring officer will decide whether it should be forwarded to the Standards Committee Assessment Sub-committee for consideration, or whether it could be more appropriately dealt with via some form of monitoring officer informal 'other action'.

If a complaint proceeds to the Standards Committee Assessment Sub-committee, that Sub-committee will decide whether it should be formally investigated, it should be referred for 'other action', or that no further action is necessary.

'Other action' is an alternative to investigation. If a decision is made, either by the monitoring officer or the Standards Committee Assessment Sub-committee, to use 'other action' there is no finding made that there has or has not been a breach of the Code of Conduct.

'Other action' can allow issues to be dealt with in a more timely, yet still productive, manner.

Examples of 'other action' would include the monitoring officer writing to, or speaking with, a councillor or councillors, or a whole council, to remind them about the provisions of the Code of Conduct, or connected issues, or in relation to the registration or declaration of interests.

The full details of how complaints are dealt with are set out in the Standards Committee's adopted process and procedures.

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

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. A recording of the session are available below:

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

Contact details
Committee Manager

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

Julie Lidster, Committee Manager
East Riding of Yorkshire Council
Democratic Services
County Hall
Cross Street
Beverley
HU17 9BA.

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Agendas and reports

You can download agendas and reports up to five working days before each meeting. Select the agenda or report below.

Please note:

Reports that contain exempt or confidential matters will not be available.

Minutes

You can download meeting minutes five working days after each meeting. Select the meeting minutes below.

Please note:

You can request a copy of a meeting agenda, report or minutes before they are available on the website.

View Standards Committee documents
Contact the committee manager

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