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COUNCIL MONITORING OFFICERS
 
Each Council in Cheshire has a Monitoring Officer.  The Monitoring Officer at this Council is:
Chris Henshall, Borough Solicitor
Tel. 01270 537111
e-mail: council.info@rewe-nantwich.gov.uk
 
The Monitoring Officer is responsible for advising the Council on the legality of their decisions and on the conduct of Councillors and Officers.  The vast majority of Councils in the UK have high ethical standards and Councillors and staff behave honestly and properly.  Part of the job of Monitoring Officers is to promote and encourage high standards of behaviour in Council business. 
 
The government has taken steps to maintain high standards in Councils:- 
 
It has established a body called 'The Standards Board for England.'

The job of the Standards Board is to monitor and maintain standards of conduct in local government.  It also employs independent investigators who will examine complaints of misconduct by Councillors.  If you want to learn more about the Standards Board for England visit its website: http://www.standardsboard.co.uk/. 
 
Every local Councillor in England and Wales, including Parish Councillors must comply with a Code of Conduct.  The Code requires Councillors to treat people fairly, and aside their own interests when conducting Council business.  If you want to see the Code applying to Councillors select the following: http://www.legislation.hmso.gov.uk/si/si2001/20013575.htm

Councillors have to fill in a form which goes in a public Register.
The Register can be inspected by anyone, and sets out things like what business a Councillor carries on and what property he/she owns.  Registers are kept by the Monitoring Officer.  If you want to see the Register for Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council contact the Council's Monitoring Officer.

Every Council has to have a Constitution (pdf - 738Kb) saying how it works and what its governing rules are. 
 
The Constitution includes the adopted Code of Conduct, how Councillors and Officers should behave towards each other and, most importantly, how the public can influence Council decisions.
Every Council has a Standards Committee. 
 
Very briefly, the role of the Standards Committee is to:-
  • Help Councillors observe the Code of Conduct;
  • Promote high standards of conduct;
  • Deal with complaints against Councillors referred to it from the Standards Board;
  • Similar duties in relation to the Parish Councils in its area.
All Councils are subject to inspections arranged by the Audit Commission.  Some of these inspections will be concerned with financial probity and the Council's accounts.  Some will be more concerned to see that the Council is providing value for money and conducting its business properly.  If you want to learn more of the work of the Audit Commission visit the Commission's website - http://www.audit-commission.gov.uk/. 

Cheshire Monitoring Officers
 
The Monitoring Officers in Cheshire co-operate to try to achieve consistent standards and advice. 
They have worked with the Cheshire Association of Town and Parish Councils, arranging events for parish councillors and clerks where the Code of Conduct and requirements of the new ethical framework have been discussed.  If you are a parish councillor or clerk and want to know more about the Cheshire Association of Town and Parish Councils contact Jackie Weaver, Blue Bache Barn, Burleydam, Whitchurch, Shropshire SY14 4AW - Tel/Fax 01948 871314 - e-mail: jackieweaver@btinternet.com. 
 
The Cheshire Monitoring Officers have also provided seminars and training sessions at their own Councils.  If you need to contact any Cheshire Monitoring Officer their names and addresses are as follows:- 
  • Mr Charles Kerry, Head of Legal Services, Chester City Council, The Forum, Chester CH1 2HS
  • Mrs Margaret Ingram, Head of Legal Services, Congleton Borough Council, Westfields, Middlewich Road, Sandbach CW11 3HX
  • Mr Chris Chapman, Ellesmere Port & Neston Borough Council, Council Offices, Civic Way, Ellesmere Port L65 OBE
  • Mr John Tradewell, Council Solicitor, Halton Borough Council, Municipal Buildings, Kingsway, Widnes WA8 7QF
  • Mrs Fiona Crane, Vale Royal Borough Council, Wyvern House, The Drumber, Winsford CW7 1AH
  • Mr Barry Khan, Macclesfield Borough Council, Town Hall, Macclesfield SK10 1DX
  • Mr Howard Norris, Head of Legal Services, Warrington Borough Council, Town Hall, Warrington WA1 1UH
  • Mr Gerry Budd, County Solicitor, Cheshire County Council, County Hall, Chester CH1 1SF 
 
If you have a specific complaint that a Councillor has breached the Code of Conduct, that must be made in writing to The Standards Board for England, 1st Floor, Cottons Centre, Cottons Lane, London SE1 2QL (telephone: 0845 078 8181). 
 
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