Independent Person (Standards)
| Dyddiad hysbysebu: | 07 Hydref 2025 |
|---|---|
| Oriau: | Rhan Amser |
| Dyddiad cau: | 19 Hydref 2025 |
| Lleoliad: | Kingston Upon Thames, South West London |
| Gweithio o bell: | Hybrid - gweithio o bell hyd at 2 ddiwrnod yr wythnos |
| Cwmni: | Kingston Council |
| Math o swydd: | Dros dro |
| Cyfeirnod swydd: | 3767 |
Crynodeb
About the Role and our Ideal Candidate
Independent Person (Standards)
Joint Appointment to the London Borough of Sutton and the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames
The Independent Person is a role required by law to support Monitoring Officers in Local Government and provide an independent view on Code of Conduct complaints submitted against members of the council (elected councillors). This role is being jointly advertised to support the Monitoring Officers in the London Boroughs of Kingston and Sutton.
Both Councils aim to maintain a small panel of independent persons, typically 2 or 3 at any one time, both to allow for any conflicts of interest and to share the workload. The expected average time commitment is dependent on the number of complaints received however it is anticipated the weekly commitment would be no more than 1 or 2 hours where complaints have been received. There may, on rare occasions, be a requirement to attend a standards hearing, which usually take place during the day and may take several hours, however these are rare at both authorities.
Key aspects of the role include:
Providing timely advice to the Monitoring Officer in considering allegations that a councillor/co-opted member has breached the relevant council’s Code of Conduct;
Sometimes sharing your views on a complaint with the councillor against whom it has been submitted;
If necessary, attending meetings of the relevant Council in relation to a complaint investigation and outcome. Some of these meetings may be held in public;
be involved in disciplinary matters in relation to the dismissal of the councils’ statutory officers.
It is essential that you:
Are familiar with the Seven Principles of Public Life (the “Nolan Principles”)
Understand the role of the Independent Person and are familiar with both Council’s procedure for handling complaints against elected members
Are a good communicator with questioning skills
Are inquisitive, open-minded and non-judgemental
It is desirable that you:
Have an understanding of the pressures and constraints of serving as an elected or co-opted member of a democratically accountable public body
Have experience of mediation or dispute resolution (previous experience as an Independent Person welcomed)
Are qualified or experienced in legal or governance matters
Have an understanding of the arrangements for dealing with Councillor complaints, the Councillors Code of Conduct and the ethical governance provisions of the Localism Act 2011
Live and/or work in the Kingston / Sutton area
An Independent Person cannot:
be a current or former (within the last 5 years) councillor, co-opted member or officer of either Kingston or Sutton Council or
be a relative, or close friend of an individual who fulfils the criteria in the bullet point above
be disqualified from standing for election as a councillor, ie been adjudged bankrupt or been sentenced to a term of imprisonment for a period of not less than three months in the past five years
currently have and must not enter into any contractual relations with the council under which he/she will gain personally
About Us
As an Independent Person, you will not be a council employee. However, you will work closely with the Monitoring Officer, their deputies, and colleagues in reviewing Code of Conduct complaints.
A small allowance is payable by Kingston Council and reasonable expenses will be paid by Sutton Council in the discharge of this role. As technically a voluntary position, you will not be expected to work to a specific schedule but will correspond with the Monitoring Officer and other officers via phone and/or email when your advice is sought.
Independent Person (Standards)
Joint Appointment to the London Borough of Sutton and the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames
The Independent Person is a role required by law to support Monitoring Officers in Local Government and provide an independent view on Code of Conduct complaints submitted against members of the council (elected councillors). This role is being jointly advertised to support the Monitoring Officers in the London Boroughs of Kingston and Sutton.
Both Councils aim to maintain a small panel of independent persons, typically 2 or 3 at any one time, both to allow for any conflicts of interest and to share the workload. The expected average time commitment is dependent on the number of complaints received however it is anticipated the weekly commitment would be no more than 1 or 2 hours where complaints have been received. There may, on rare occasions, be a requirement to attend a standards hearing, which usually take place during the day and may take several hours, however these are rare at both authorities.
Key aspects of the role include:
Providing timely advice to the Monitoring Officer in considering allegations that a councillor/co-opted member has breached the relevant council’s Code of Conduct;
Sometimes sharing your views on a complaint with the councillor against whom it has been submitted;
If necessary, attending meetings of the relevant Council in relation to a complaint investigation and outcome. Some of these meetings may be held in public;
be involved in disciplinary matters in relation to the dismissal of the councils’ statutory officers.
It is essential that you:
Are familiar with the Seven Principles of Public Life (the “Nolan Principles”)
Understand the role of the Independent Person and are familiar with both Council’s procedure for handling complaints against elected members
Are a good communicator with questioning skills
Are inquisitive, open-minded and non-judgemental
It is desirable that you:
Have an understanding of the pressures and constraints of serving as an elected or co-opted member of a democratically accountable public body
Have experience of mediation or dispute resolution (previous experience as an Independent Person welcomed)
Are qualified or experienced in legal or governance matters
Have an understanding of the arrangements for dealing with Councillor complaints, the Councillors Code of Conduct and the ethical governance provisions of the Localism Act 2011
Live and/or work in the Kingston / Sutton area
An Independent Person cannot:
be a current or former (within the last 5 years) councillor, co-opted member or officer of either Kingston or Sutton Council or
be a relative, or close friend of an individual who fulfils the criteria in the bullet point above
be disqualified from standing for election as a councillor, ie been adjudged bankrupt or been sentenced to a term of imprisonment for a period of not less than three months in the past five years
currently have and must not enter into any contractual relations with the council under which he/she will gain personally
About Us
As an Independent Person, you will not be a council employee. However, you will work closely with the Monitoring Officer, their deputies, and colleagues in reviewing Code of Conduct complaints.
A small allowance is payable by Kingston Council and reasonable expenses will be paid by Sutton Council in the discharge of this role. As technically a voluntary position, you will not be expected to work to a specific schedule but will correspond with the Monitoring Officer and other officers via phone and/or email when your advice is sought.
Aelod balch o'r cynllun cyflogwyr Hyderus o ran Anabledd
Hyderus o ran Anabledd
Gwybodaeth am Hyderus o ran Anabledd
Yn gyffredinol, bydd cyflogwr Hyderus o ran Anabledd yn cynnig cyfweliad i unrhyw ymgeisydd sy'n datgan eu bod yn anabl ac yn bodloni'r meini prawf lleiaf ar gyfer y swydd fel y diffinnir gan y cyflogwr. Mae'n bwysig nodi, mewn rhai sefyllfaoedd recriwtio fel nifer fawr o ymgeiswyr, cyfnod tymhorol ac amseroedd prysur iawn, efallai y bydd y cyflogwr am gyfyngu ar y niferoedd cyffredinol o gyfweliadau a gynigir i bobl anabl a phobl nad ydynt yn anabl. Am fwy o fanylion ewch i Hyderus o ran Anabledd.