The Standards Committee of Surrey Police Authority, established under the Local Government Act 2000, comprises six members, three of whom are Independent Members appointed solely to the Standards Committee and three of whom are members of the Police Authority. The three sole members of the Standards Committee typically serve a term of four years. The members from the full Police Authority are rotated on a more frequent basis.
Its current members are Chairman Gary Crouch (Ind), Catherine Prest (Ind), Sheila Griffiths (Ind), Councillor Member Angela Fraser, and Independent Police Authority Members Heather Kerswell and Jane Anderson.
The Committee’s primary roles are to promote and maintain high standards of conduct by Members of the Authority and to assist them in observing the Authority’s Code of Conduct.
In accordance with its Terms of Reference, the Standards Committee:
Assists the maintenance of high standards of conduct by Members by:
- Advising the Authority on the adoption or revision of its Code of Conduct and to monitor its operation
- Assisting Members in observing the Code of Conduct including arrangements for training on matters relating to the Code of Conduct
- Advising the Authority on training needs it has identified for Members
- Advising the Authority of liaison arrangements with the Standards Board for England in accordance with any statutory requirements, monitoring and advising the Authority on compliance with the requirements for registration of interests and registers of gifts and hospitality.
- The Independent Members of the Standards Committee reviewing the Scheme of Allowances and bringing recommendations to the Standards Committee for approval
- The Standards Committee reviewing the Scheme of Allowances and bringing recommendations to the Authority for approval.
Reviews the effectiveness of the Police Authority by:
- Assisting the Police Authority to develop and improve through Self-Assessment
- Reviewing Standing Orders of the Police Authority and making any recommendations for change to the Authority
- Advising the Authority on any protocols which need to be developed in order for the Authority’s business to be carried out appropriately
- Considering audit and inspection reports relevant to the Police Authority and overseeing implementation of any agreed recommendations
- Ensuring that the Authority complies with the requirements of Freedom of Information and Data Protection
Assists in the implementation of the Race Equality Scheme
The committee meets four times in the municipal year. Each meeting covers a wide agenda designed to assist the Authority to maintain high standards of conduct by Members. Key issues addressed through the last year included: revised Codes of Conduct for SPA Members and staff; the Code of Corporate Governance; the revision of Standing Orders; Member allowances and Member attendance.
In an important new development , the Committee has been preparing for the introduction of ’local investigations’. From May 2008, all allegations of misconduct against a Member of the Authority will be filtered at local level, rather than considered at a national level by the Standards Board for England. The Committee has overseen the preparation of a protocol setting out the procedures to follow when assessing allegations and carrying out an investigation.
You can read the latest Annual Report of the Standards Committee by clicking here
Click here to see the Registers of Interests for Independent Members:
Please refer to the main Members page for details of full Authority Members' Interests
The Standards Committee Annual Return
In 2009, Standards for England (SfE) introduced an Annual Return process for local authorities (including police authorities) that requires standards committees to tell SfE about their activities and arrangements for promoting and supporting high standards of ethical conduct. The information collected is designed to be used to improve performance, champion the work of standards committees and to ensure that SfE has effective oversight of local standards frameworks.
You can see the 2010 Annual Return for Surrey Police Authority's Standards Committee here.
Attendance at full SPA meetings
A Member of the Standards Committee will be in attendance at every public meeting of Surrey Police Authority. The rota for attendance can be found here.
