Standards committee
'Maintaining standards, preserving confidence'
The Standards Committee is responsible for promoting and maintaining high standards of conduct by Councillors, together with Co-opted, Advisory and Independent Members who serve on City Council Committees
The role of the Committee
The Committee:
- is responsible for the local assessment of allegations of misconduct, in accordance with the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 by way of 3 Sub-Committees of the Standards Committee (to be drawn from the membership of that Committee), each to be Chaired by an Independent Member and comprising 2 Independent Members and 1 Councillor, to carry out the following functions -
- The initial assessment of a misconduct allegation received under Section 57A of the Local Government Act 2000
- Any request received from a complainant to reveiw a decision to take no action in relation to a misconduct allegation
- Any subsequent hearing to determine whether a Member has breached the Code and where appropriate, to impose a sanction
- approves and promotes a local Code of Conduct for Members
- monitors adherence to the Code and consider reports of any alleged breaches of the Code of Conduct for Members
- considers reports by the Monitoring Officer in relation to issues concerning conduct and standards
- considers reports from external and Internal Audit relating to conduct issues in general
- liaises with and make representations to the Local Government Association on issues relating to conduct
- advising, training or arranging to train Members of the Authority on matters relating to the Authority's Code of Conduct
- considers matters referred to it by the Ethical Standards Officer appointed by the Standards Board for England
- grants dispensations from requirements relating to interests covered by the Code of Conduct
The membership of the Committee
The membership of the Committee has been revised recently to provide greater independence and will comprise of 6 Independent Members (one of which is the Chair of the Committee) and two Councillors. The Indepent Members of the Committee are (with a brief biography):
Howard Winik (Chair)
Howard graduated in dental surgery at the University of Liverpool and has worked as a dentist in the area for a number of years. He became a magistrate on 1990 and serves in both adult and youth courts. He is currently chairman of the bench and also serves as a mentor and appraiser for new magistrates. He has occupied positions on the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster's Advisory Committee for Justices of the Peace, the Merseyside Area Judicial forum, the Court of the University of Liverpool and is also an 08 ambassador for the city
Kim Lumberg
Kim graduated with a joint honours degree in English and History. She embarked on a business management career spanning some 25 years with the John Lewis Partnership and has specialised in training, human resources and customer services. She has been a magistrate, a member of the Young Musician of the Year committee and has an enhanced disclosure from the Criminal Records Bureau obtained when she was a Red Cross volunteer. She has been a recruitment manager for a local company and is currently a manager for Jonathan Kay. She has experience of employment hearings and the application of an ethical framework in the workplace.
Hugh Thompson
Hugh wants to take forward what he has already learnt whilst serving on the Standards Committee and give a service to the public. He was one of the original independent members of the Standards Committee. He is employed by HM Revenue and Customs and, until earlier this year, chaired the local trade union branch. He was previously employed by the Ministry of Defence and Department of Employment. He is a Magistrate and an officer in the Territorial Army and also sits on various charity committees.
Pamela Brown
Pamela was another of the original independent members of the Standards Committee. She has been involved within the conurbation of Merseyside for over 40 years, working across all levels within the public, private and voluntary sectors. This has been as a paid employee or undertaking non - paid voluntary work. Her background is within socio-economics, having undertaken many studies locally, regionally, nationally and internationally. She is currently employed as the chief executive/general manager of the Athenaeum, Liverpool. She is also a director and trustee of many local charities and organisations, with her main focus being linked with maritime issues.
(Two additional Independent Members are being recruited)
The Councillor Members are:
The meetings of the Committee
The Committee generally meets on a quarterly basis, but more often if required and the dates are publicised on the council's website. The public can attend these meetings, however, if exempt business is under discussion the public is asked to leave.
View the agendas and minutes of the Committee
The contact officer for the committee is Dave Phillips, who can be contacted either by phone on 0151 225 2429 or by email at Dave.Phillips@liverpool.gov.uk
If you are unhappy about the way a member of Liverpool City Council or one of the co-opted members has behaved, you can submit a complaint in writing to:
The Monitoring Officer
Liverpool City Council
Municipal Buildings
Dale Street
Liverpool
L2 2DH