Breckland councillors confirmed the decision to charge new properties for their wheelie bins last night.
Breckland councillors abolish committee that investigated complaints against councillors
By MARTIN GEORGE
Friday, May 25, 2012
3:34 PM
The standards committee that investigated complaints about district and parish councillors in the Breckland area was formally abolished last night.
The standards committee included independent members and representatives of parish councils in addition to Breckland councillors, but the government’s Localism Bill removed the requirement that it exist.
Responsibility for investigating complaints about councillors will be transferred to Breckland Council’s audit committee, whose members are all Breckland councillors. It will form a three-member hearing panel to hear cases referred to it by the council’s monitoring officer.
Members of the standards committee had fiercely opposed the changes, but it was recommended by the cabinet on May 8 and rubber-stamped by the full council on Thursday May 24.
Two councillors abstained on the vote, with Shirley Matthews voicing concerns about the lack of an appeals panel.
Councillors also appointed Fiona Anthony to the newly-created position of Independent Person, who must be consulted about any decisions about complaints against councillors.
She is a non-practising solicitor and is also an independent member of the Norfolk Police Authority.
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5 comments
I can't help noticing that the independent members has all of the "right" qualifications; member of the Norfolk Police Authority and part time employee of NCC legal services. Wasn't the idea to choose someone who had no connection with local government? What is the point otherwise?
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Nemesis
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Keeping it in-house then. No doubt the 3 person panel will be made up of those councillors who have the time to attend - I wonder if they will be the Tory members?
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greenwitch
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Who really cares enough to get this malaodourous decision changed? It won't be done by local councillors, only by popular revolt.
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bedoomed
Saturday, May 26, 2012
A one stop absolution panel for naughty councillors, most likely Tory dominated. One expects that the Independent member will apply as much rigour and moralrectitude to judging councillors misdemeanours, as she has to apply scrutiny to Norfolk police Authority.
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ingo wagenknecht
Friday, May 25, 2012
These are the same 3-member panels were very popular with the old USSR too.
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Peter Watson
Friday, May 25, 2012