Part III

Conduct of local government members and employees
Chapter I

Conduct of members

Standards committees

Functions of standards committees.
54
1
The general functions of a standards committee of a relevant authority are—
a
promoting and maintaining high standards of conduct by the members and co-opted members of the authority, and
b
assisting members and co-opted members of the authority to observe the authority’s code of conduct.
2
Without prejudice to its general functions, a standards committee of a relevant authority has the following specific functions—
a
advising the authority on the adoption or revision of a code of conduct,
b
monitoring the operation of the authority’s code of conduct, and
c
advising, training or arranging to train members and co-opted members of the authority on matters relating to the authority’s code of conduct.
2A
A standards committee of a county council or county borough council in Wales also has the specific functions of—
a
monitoring compliance by leaders of political groups on the council with their duties under section 52A(1), and
b
advising, training or arranging to train leaders of political groups on the council about matters relating to those duties.
3
A relevant authority may arrange for their standards committee to exercise such other functions as the authority consider appropriate.
3A
In relation to a relevant authority whose members and co-opted members are subject to mandatory provisions by virtue of section 51(5)(b), references in subsection (1)(b) and (2)(b) and (c) to the authority's code of conduct are to those mandatory provisions.
4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5
The Welsh Ministers may by regulations make provision with respect to the exercise of functions by standards committees of relevant authorities ....
5A
Regulations made under subsection (5) may modify any provision of this Part, or any other enactment relating to a standards committee or to any functions of a standards committee, in relation to cases where a function of a standards committee is exercisable by a joint committee.
5B
In subsection (5A) “
enactment
” includes an enactment comprised in subordinate legislation (within the meaning of the Interpretation Act 1978 (c. 30)), whenever passed or made.
6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
7
A standards committee must, in exercising any of its functions, have regard to any relevant guidance issued by the Welsh Ministers.
S. 54 wholly in force at 28.7.2001; s. 54 not in force at Royal Assent see s. 108; s. 54(5)(7) in force at 1.11.2000 in relation to Wales by S.I. 2000/2948, art. 2; s. 54 in force at 19.12.2000 in relation to England and to police authorities in Wales by S.I. 2000/3335, art. 2; s. 54 in force at 28.7.2001 in so far as not already in force see s. 108(4)-(6)
Pt. III applied (with modifications) (5.3.2008) by The Cheshire (Structural Changes) Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/634), arts. 1, 7(5)
Pt. III applied (24.3.2010) by The South Downs National Park Authority (Establishment) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/497), art. 1, Sch. 4 para. 9(3)
S. 54(2A) inserted (5.5.2022) by Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021 (asc 1), ss. 62(3), 175(7); S.I. 2021/231, art. 6(l)
Pt. III applied (24.3.2005) by New Forest National Park Authority (Establishment) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/421), art. 1, Sch. 4 para. 9(3)
Words in s. 54(5) substituted (1.5.2015) by Local Government (Democracy) (Wales) Act 2013 (anaw 4), ss. 68(3)(a), 75(3); S.I. 2015/1182, art. 2(e)
Words in s. 54(5) repealed (1.7.2012 for specified purposes, 22.11.2012 in so far as not already in force) by Localism Act 2011 (c. 20), s. 240(2), Sch. 4 para. 13(3), Sch. 25 Pt. 5; S.I. 2012/1463, art. 5(a)(d) (with arts. 6, 7) (as amended (3.7.2012) by S.I. 2012/1714, art. 2); S.I. 2012/2913, arts. 1(2), 2(b)(c) (with arts. 3-6)
Pt. III functions made exercisable (E.) by joint standards committees (15.6.2009) by The Standards Committee (Further Provisions) (England) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/1255), regs. 1(1), 14
Pt. III savings for effects of 2005 c. 10, s. 38 (1.4.2006) by The Public Services Ombudsman (Wales) Act 2005 (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/362), arts. 1(1), 4
S. 54(4) repealed (7.6.2012 for specified purposes, 1.7.2012 for specified purposes, 22.11.2012 in so far as not already in force) by Localism Act 2011 (c. 20), s. 240(2), Sch. 4 para. 13(2), Sch. 25 Pt. 5; S.I. 2012/1463, arts. 2(h), 5(a)(d) (with arts. 6, 7); S.I. 2012/2913, arts. 1(2), 2(b)(c) (with arts. 3-6)
Pt. III applied (22.7.2004) by The Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (Establishment of Conservation Board) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/1778), arts. 1, 14(1)
Pt. III applied (with modifications) (22.11.2012) by The Police and Crime Panels (Application of Local Authority Enactments) Regulations 2012 (S.I. 2012/2734), regs. 1(1), 3-6, Sch. Pt. 3
S. 54(3A) inserted (31.1.2008) by Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 (c. 28), ss. 184(3), 245(5) (with s. 201); S.I. 2008/172, art. 2(1)(i)
Pt. III applied (with modifications) (28.3.2008) by The Bedfordshire (Structural Changes) Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/907), arts. 1, 16(8)
Pt. III Ch. I applied (12.11.2009 for specified purposes, 1.10.2010 in so far as not already in force) by Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 (c. 23), ss. 151(7)(c), 324(1)(c)(d) (with ss. 172(3), 185); S.I. 2010/2195, art. 3(2)(b)
Pt. III applied (22.7.2004) by The Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (Establishment of Conservation Board) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/1777), arts. 1, 14(1)
S. 54(5A)(5B) inserted (1.5.2015) by Local Government (Democracy) (Wales) Act 2013 (anaw 4), ss. 68(3)(b), 75(3); S.I. 2015/1182, art. 2(e)
S. 54(7) substituted (1.5.2015) by Local Government (Democracy) (Wales) Act 2013 (anaw 4), ss. 68(3)(c), 75(3); S.I. 2015/1182, art. 2(e)
S. 54(6) repealed (31.1.2012) by Localism Act 2011 (c. 20), s. 240(2), Sch. 4 para. 13(4), Sch. 25 Pt. 5; S.I. 2012/57, art. 5(1)(a)(c)(2)(d) (with arts. 6, 8)
Pt. III continued (with modifications) (14.12.2011) by The Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (Commencement No. 3 and Transitional Provisions) Order 2011 (S.I. 2011/3019), art. 5