Appointment of independent members to the MPA Standards Committee

Report: 4 - Annual General Meeting
Date: 24 June 2010
By: Chief Executive

Summary

Interviews have been held to appoint the two/three independent members of the Authority’s Standards Committee. This report seeks confirmation of these appointments.

A. Recommendations

That the three candidates selected at paragraph 4 be appointed as the independent members of the Standards Committee for a term of four years from the date of this meeting, subject to security clearance.

B. Supporting information

1. Each public authority is required by law to have a Standards Committee as part of the ethical framework aimed at emphasising the need for elected or appointed members of these authorities to carry out their public duties with the highest degree of integrity.

2. By law, at least 25% of the membership of these committees must consist of people who are not members of that authority. The MPA Standards Committee currently comprises of five Authority members and two Standards Committee independent members. The Standards Committee agreed that it would be useful to increase independent members on the Standards Committee to three.

3. To recruit the independent members, an advertisement was placed in the Evening Standard and the MPA received 49 applications. Three MPA members of the Standards Committee short listed and interviewed seven candidates in early June.

4. All seven candidates could have brought particular skills and experience to the role but the three candidates recommended by the panel are:

• Ann Dickens: re-appointed for second term. Chairman of LFEPA Standards Committee, former Secretary to the Church of England’s Ethical Investment Committee.
• John Bowers: QC and judge, former member of the Standards Board for England and chairman of Bar Disciplinary Tribunals.
• Janet Gray: Member of the Medway Council Standards Committee since 2008.

5. By law, the appointment decision must be taken by the Authority and members are therefore asked to ratify the appointment panel’s decisions.

C. Race and equality impact

Equalities and diversity considerations are integral throughout the appointment process to ensure that it reflects recruitment best practice and that as far as possible the MPA’s membership as a whole is representative of London’s communities.

D. Financial implications

The independent members of the Standards Committee are eligible to claim an allowance the current MPA Members’ Allowances Scheme give an entitlement annual allowance of £1,207 for the Chairman (The Chairman of the Standards Committee must be an independent member) and £573 for other independent members.

E. Legal implications

There are no specific legal implications raised by this report.

F. Background papers

• None

G. Contact details

Report author(s): Nick Baker

For more information contact:

MPA general: 020 7202 0202
Media enquiries: 020 7202 0217/18

Appendix 1: Standards Committee Terms of Reference

1. To promote and maintain high standards of conduct by members of the Authority.

2. To advise the Authority on the adoption or revision of its code of conduct and to monitor the operation of this code.

3. To assist members in observing the code of conduct, including arrangements for training on matters relating to the code of conduct.

4. To establish sub-committees under regulation 6 of the Standards Committee (England) Regulations 2008/1085 (“the Regulations”) for the discharge of functions under s 57A and 57B of the 2000 Act, and regulations 18-20 of the Regulations; and to determine, or make arrangements for determining, the composition, membership and terms of reference of such sub-committees.

To discharge as a full committee the functions contained regulations 18-20 of the Regulations where the full committee decides that such functions should not be discharged by a sub-committee established under (4) above.

To discharge as a full committee the functions contained in regulation 17 of the Regulations; and, where considered appropriate by the full committee, to establish a sub-committee (and agree its composition, membership and terms of reference) to discharge such functions.

Subject to 5 and 6 above, to discharge or make arrangements for discharging any of the functions conferred upon the Committee under the Regulations and associated, relevant provisions of Part III of the 2000 Act.

8. In accordance with any statutory requirements, to monitor and advise the Authority on compliance with the requirements for registration of member interests and registers of gifts and hospitality.

9. To monitor the Authority’s performance in meeting its obligations under the Freedom of Information Act.

10. To consider and determine requests to grant a member a dispensation in the following circumstances:

1. The transaction of business of the Authority would, on each occasion on which the dispensation would apply, otherwise be impeded by, or as a result of, the mandatory provisions because –
2. The number of members of the Authority that are prohibited from participating in the business of the Authority exceeds 50% of those members that are entitled or required to so participate; or
3. The Authority is not able to comply with any duty which applies to it under section 15 (4) of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989;
4. The member has submitted to the Standards Committee a written request for a dispensation explaining why it is desirable;
5. Unless the Committee has specified a shorter duration, any dispensation so granted shall lapse after four years.

11. Under Section 3A of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 as amended by section 202 of the Local Government and Public Involvement in health Act 2007, to consider applications from MPA staff (including police staff) for the post held by them to be exempted from the list of politically restricted posts held by the MPA.

12. To have due regard, in exercising the committee’s responsibilities, to equal opportunities generally, the general duty of the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 and the requirements of any other equalities legislation.

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