Standards Committee

The Standards Committee has been established to promote and maintain the highest ethical standards among its Members. In May 2008, new arrangements were introduced for the adjudication of complaints, and the Committee was enlarged to comprise of four Independent Members and three Elected Members.

Standards Committee Meetings

Terms of Reference (.PDF)

Introduction

The Standards Committee was set up under the provisions of the Local Government Act 2000 and comprises four Independent (Co-opted) Members and three Elected Members (Councillors) – its ‘Members’. It is chaired by an Independent (Co-opted) Member.

The Combined Fire Authority has agreed a Code of Conduct (.PDF), based on the national Model Code, which sets out the standard of conduct required of its Members.

Any complaint that a Member has breached the Code of Conduct should be made to the Standards Committee.

The Standards Committee has established an Assessment Sub Committee (.PDF) to undertake an initial assessment of the complaint to ascertain whether it merits investigation or other action. If the Assessment Sub Committee decides to take no action in respect of an allegation, the complainant has 30 days within which to request the Authority to review that decision.

In this regard, the Standards Committee has established a Review Sub-Committee (.PDF) to conduct that review. No Member can sit on the Review Sub Committee in respect of a complaint where they were on the Assessment Sub Committee for the initial assessment of the same complaint.

If the matter proceeds to investigation and the Investigating Officer concludes that there has been a failure to comply with the Code of Conduct for Members, a Hearings Panel will be convened.

If you wish to complain about the conduct of a Member of the Fire Authority, you should submit your complaint to:

The Monitoring Officer
Bedfordshire and Luton Combined Fire Authority
Southfields Road
Kempston
Bedford
MK42 7NR

You may submit a complaint in any form you choose but it is suggested that you use the complaint form (.PDF) to be sure you have provided all the information necessary to progress the complaint.

Alternatively, you can contact Tony Richardson on (01234) 845027 or email: tony.richardson@bedsfire.com

Committee Meetings

Calendar of CFA Meetings and CFA Meetings and Standards Committee Meetings for 20010-11 (.PDF)

Agendas

15 July 2010

5 March 2010

4 November 2009

29 July 2009

6 March 2009

10 November 2008

10 July 2008

28 March 2008

Minutes

4 November 2009 (.PDF)

29 July 2009 (.PDF)

6 March 2009 (.PDF)

10 November 2008 (.PDF)

10 July 2008 (.PDF)

28 March 2008 (.PDF)