These Regulations amend the Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) Regulations 2001 (“the 2001 Regulations”), which require certain local authorities in England to make or modify standing orders so that they include certain provisions relating to staff and other matters.

Regulation 2 removes the provisions in the 2001 Regulations, except insofar as they apply in relation to the standing orders of the New Forest National Park Authority, relating to the “designated independent person” required to be appointed by a local authority before it could dismiss or discipline its head of paid service, monitoring officer or chief finance officer. It makes new provision about the procedure to be followed in such cases, which authorities are required to include in their standing orders. It also requires that the authority, when setting up its panel for the purpose of advising on matters relating to the dismissal of a relevant officer, invite independent persons who have been appointed under section 28(7) of the Localism Act 2011. The authority is required to appoint such independent persons to the panel in the specified priority order and the panel must have at least two members.

Regulation 3 makes transitional provisions in relation to regulation 2.

No impact assessment has been prepared in relation to these Regulations because no impact on the private or voluntary sectors is foreseen.