MAIDSTONE BOROUGH COUNCIL

COUNCIL

27 APRIL 2011

REPORT OF THE HEAD OF DEMOCRATIC SERVICES

Report prepared by Debbie Snook

1.           STANDARDS COMMITTEE – EXTENSION OF TERM OF OFFICE OF PARISH REPRESENTATIVE

1.1        The Standards Committee consists of six Borough Councillors, four Independent Members and four Parish representatives.  The term of office of Councillor Bill Stead as a Parish representative is due to expire in May 2011.

1.2     There is uncertainty regarding the future of the Standards regime following the anticipated abolition of the requirement to have a Code of Conduct and a Standards Committee when the Localism Bill receives royal assent.  Following consultation with the Maidstone Area Committee of the Kent Association of Local Councils, it is:-

2.       RECOMMENDED:

2.1     That the term of office of Councillor Bill Stead as a Parish representative on the Standards Committee be extended until the Annual Meeting of the Council in May 2012 given the uncertainty regarding whatever arrangements might take the place of the current Standards regime.

Background Documents:

Correspondence with the Secretary of the Maidstone Area Committee of the Kent Association of Local Councils – Democratic Services Section