Independent Person

Independent Person Vacancy (Standards)

 

A vacancy has arisen at South Kesteven District Council for an Independent Person to support the Council’s ethical standards framework for its elected members.

 

The role of Independent Person involves providing an objective and impartial view on Councillor Code of Conduct complaints received against District Councillors or Parish and Town Councillors within the district of South Kesteven.

 

The successful candidate will have a good understanding of the ethical standards required of persons in public office and be familiar with the Nolan Principles (the seven principles of public life). Working knowledge of the Local Government Association guidance on Councillor Code of Conduct would also be preferable. High levels of personal integrity are essential to this role, as well as being able to assess complex information and provide advice or recommendations based on evidence.

 

Please note that you will be ineligible for this role if you:

 

• Have previously been a Councillor, Co-opted Member or Officer of South Kesteven District Council or any Parish Council or Town Council within the boundary of South Kesteven, within the last five years
• Be a relative or close friend or associate of a Councillor, Co-opted Member or Officer of South Kesteven District Council or any Parish Council or Town Council within the boundary of South Kesteven
• Hold any political office, belong to a political party or have been politically active in the last five years

 

The successful candidate will be expected to attend a workshop for Independent Persons held annually, the costs of which will be met by the Council. This workshop will provide you with the opportunity to network with other Independent Persons across the country, as well as be appraised as to the latest case law or developments in legislation or guidance associated with the Councillor Code of Conduct or ethical framework.

 

Attendance at the Council’s Standards Committee meetings, which currently meets twice a year, would also be expected as well as attendance at any Hearing Review Panels held throughout the year as and when necessary.

As part of the Council’s procedure for dealing with complaints against Councillors, the Monitoring Officer will consult with the Independent Person regarding any complaint received in relation to the conduct of a District Councillor or Town and Parish Councillors within the district of South Kesteven. This will predominantly take place via email or remote meetings, but face to face meetings may be necessary from time to time at the Council’s offices in Grantham. The successful candidate will be provided with an SKDC laptop or tablet and a designated SKDC email address for this purpose.

 

Independent Persons are entitled to an annual allowance of £1,500 per annum, in accordance with the Council’s Members’ Allowances Scheme. The appointment will be for a period of four years.

Should you be interested in applying for this position, please send a covering statement to express your interest and how you believe you meet the requirements for the role, alongside your CV, to HR@southkesteven.gov.uk.

The application process closes on 25/02/2025

Interviews will take place via the Council’s Employment Committee on a date to be confirmed.

If you would like an informal discussion about the role, please contact Graham Watts (Monitoring Officer) on 07387 521840 or graham.watts@southkesteven.gov.uk

Supporting documents:

 

• Councillor Code of Conduct
• Council’s procedure for dealing with complaints against Councillors
• LGA guidance: Guidance on Local Government Association Model Councillor Code of Conduct | Local Government Association