The Standards Committees (Wales) Regulations 2001

Explanatory Note

(This note does not form part of the Regulations)

Part III of the Local Government Act 2000 (“the Act”) makes provision with respect to the conduct of local government members and employees.

Section 53(1) of the Act requires every relevant authority, which in Wales includes county and county borough councils, fire authorities, National Park authorities and police authorities but not community councils, to establish a standards committee which is to have the functions conferred on it by or under that Part of the Act.

Under section 53(11) of the Act, the National Assembly for Wales may by regulations make provision as to (among other things) the size, composition and proceedings of standards committees of relevant authorities in Wales, other than police authorities, and of any sub-committees established under section 56 of the Act.

Regulations 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 make provision with respect to the size and composition of standards committees and sub-committees and Regulation 12 provides that no requirement of political balance is to apply to them.

Regulations 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 provide for the appointment of independent members to standards committees and sub-committees.

Regulations 18, 19, 20 and 21 make provision with respect to the term of office and re-appointment of members of standards committees and sub-committees.

Regulations 22 and 23 make provision with respect to the office of chairperson and vice-chairperson of a standards committee or sub-committee and with respect to voting at meetings.

Regulations 24 and 25 make provision with respect to a Quorum at meetings of standards committees and sub-committees, the frequency of meetings and the attendance of the authority’s monitoring officer or a representative of the monitoring officer.

Regulation 26 applies, with modifications, certain provisions of Part VA of the Local Government Act 1972 to standards committees and sub-committees.

Regulations 28 and 29 make provision with respect to the keeping of a record of the proceedings and with respect to terms of reference of standards committees and sub-committees.

Regulation 30 makes provision with respect to transitional arrangements regarding the appointment of independent members to standards committees and sub-committees.