29 January 2008

Are you the sort of person who can keep councillors on their toes and make sure they reach decisions in an ethical way?

Then the local authority that runs Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service would like to hear from you.

Buckinghamshire & Milton Keynes Fire Authority is seeking three members of the public to join its Standards Committee. The committee, which will comprise five elected members and four non-elected members, makes sure that the authority’s members behave in accordance with a strict code of conduct.

Applicants must be impartial, independent-minded people who have a real interest in the workings of local government.

Chris Fogden, the committee’s chairman, said: “It’s an interesting role, as you get to have an input into the authority’s policy and practices as well as learning about some of the background services that support it.

“Naturally the type of people we are looking for should have high integrity themselves. It would also be useful if they had some knowledge of the workings of a local authority.”

The committee meets in Aylesbury about four times a year to consider protocols, look into any complaints that members have breached the code of conduct and ensure that decision-making meets national and local ethical standards.

Independent members receive a small fixed annual allowance and their travelling and subsistence expenses are paid.

Standards committees for fire authorities were set up following the Local Government Act 2000 to promote high standards of ethical conduct among elected councillors as well as independent and co-opted members.

The role of independent members on a standards committee is considered so important by the government that a committee cannot conduct any business unless at least a quarter of the members present are independent.

For more information ring Victoria Molnár on 01296 744434, write to her at Brigade HQ, Stocklake, Aylesbury, HP20 1BD or download an information and application pack:

Click HERE for Word format
Click HERE for PDF format