QUESTIONS ASKED OF COUNCIL...
Leader insists former cases were done ‘out of stupidity’
THE leader of Staffordshire Moorlands District Council has defended the standard of conduct in public office at the authority after it was raised at a recent meeting.
Leek councillor Bill Cawley asked the question of district council leader Sybil Ralphs in the wake of several incidents over the past few years.
An enquiry in 2016 found Councillor Mike Worthington was found in breach of the council code of conduct, followed by Councillor Gail Lockett in 2018.
In a written question to Councillor Ralphs, Councillor Cawley said: “The independent committee on Standards in Public Life is carrying out a review of the institutions, processes and structures in place to support high standards of conduct in public office.
“How does SMDC ensure that the seven principles of public life are adhered to by its public office holders?”
Speaking at the meeting in a supplementary question, Mr Cawley, right, added: “The seven standards of public life are crucial to the accountability for all public bodies.
“Will the leader give assurances that the SMDC will always give such matter the highest priority if issues arise?”
Councillor Ralphs replied: “Yes”. In a second supplementary question, Councillor Cawley said: “One of the strands in public life is integrity.
“In recent years, two enquiries have found SMDC councillors Worthington (2016) and Lockett (2018) were in breach of the council code of conduct.
“These cost Staffordshire
Moorlands District Council much in resources and time, does the leader agree with me that these affairs are poor use of council tax payers money as well as damaging the standing of the council in the public eyes.”
In reply, Councillor Ralphs said: “We have bad behaviour in public and private institutions. It is the way you deal with them. We dealt with the breaches very quickly and smoothly and made them public.
“This happens in local and national government. Ten years ago there was the allowance scheme in Parliament which was questioned. People were found to have broken the code of conduct.
“The cases that you state were more out of stupidity than personal gain. We have now put guidelines in place to eradicate any misconduct.”
In reply to Mr Cawley’s original question, Councillor Ralphs issued a written in-depth statement.
She said: “In order to ensure that the seven principles of public life are adhered to by its public office holders, the council has a range of agreed policies and processes in place.
“Section 27 (1) of The Localism Act 2011 requires the council to promote and maintain high standards of conduct for its elected and co-opted members.
“To ensure high standards of ethical behaviour and good governance throughout the authority the council has adopted a number of policies.
“These various policies are drawn together within one document to clarify their place and role within the Council’s Local Ethical Framework.
“This is published on the council’s website with its Constitution, to provide a route map for all members, officers and the public to identify and consider the policies and procedures which the council has in place.
“The framework sets out the standards of behaviour that the council expects of its members and staff in all areas of their conduct and also clarifies roles and responsibilities for the i nt e raction between members and staff. The council holds regular seminars on the Code of Conduct for members which are open to all district, town/parish councillors and parish/town clerks. Delivered by the council’s monitoring officer these include reference to case studies and consistently receive very positive feedback.
“Although following the introduction of the Localism Act 2011, the council is no longer required to hold meetings of its Standards Committee, it continues to do so to demonstrate its commitment to upholding the seven principles of public life.
“At its last meeting on November 19 the agenda included a regular update on the complaints received by the council.
“These are dealt with in accordance with a robust process for dealing with standards allegation complaints (including consulting with Independent Persons) and processes for the investigation of complaints and hearings as agreed by all members at full council.
“The council has always taken part in consultation exercises, via the Standards Committee, with regards to the standards framework and complies with best practice guidelines as recommended by the committee on Standards in Public Life.
“These include regular reviews of the Code of Conduct for members, the complaints process and updates on standards issues at all political group leader meetings.”