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Strong local government support for the local standards framework
05 March 2010
The local government standards framework is working and is having a positive influence on member behaviour, according to a review published today by Standards for England (SfE).
The review shows there is considerable support from local government for the arrangements to regulate member behaviour, although in the current political climate the public are less convinced.
The review is based on wide-ranging consultation with local government stakeholders and the lessons of 20 months of experience in working with the local standards framework.
Standards for England Chair, Dr Robert Chilton said:
“18 months on from the radical remodelling of local standards introduced by the 2007 Act, it made sense to review and refine how the local standards framework is working in practice.
”The review revealed that the new system has secured a considerable level of consent across local government. However, there are problems - glitches in the system - where the proportionality of the framework, its timeliness, cost-effectiveness and fairness can be improved.
“We believe that these problems can be fixed, and we set out a number of recommendations for Communities and Local Government to consider.”
These recommendations include:
- More streamlined local assessment of complaints - arrangements to more easily dismiss trivial and less serious complaints where appropriate, saving on time, money and process
- An enhanced role for independent chairs and vice chairs of local standards committees
- A new power for local standards committees to be able to halt investigations, if they have good reasons
- A commitment to greater transparency- always informing members that they have been the subject of a complaint, unless there are compelling circumstances not to
- The need to develop an approach which allows better management of the costs of operating the framework, working with local authorities to identify and promote ways of ensuring those costs are reasonable
Dr Chilton adds, “We believe that our recommendations chime with the views of those familiar with the local standards framework in practice, and the review provides Government with a clear blueprint for future development”.
For media enquiries, contact the press office on 0161 817 5400 or email press.enquiries@standardsforengland.gov.uk.
Notes for editors
- The full review ‘Local Standards 2.0 - the proportionality upgrade’ is now published on the Standards for England website www.standardsforengland.gov.uk.
- Copies of the review are available on request, contact the press office on 0161 817 5400 or email pressenquiries@standardsforengland.gov.uk.
