Councillors

In Sandwell Council standards are important. It is important to us that members and employees work together to deliver good and excellent quality services to those who live and work in the Borough. Currently the Council's priorities are:

• Active and Well People
• A Safe and Clean Place to Live
• Educated and Skilled People in Employment

It is also important how members and employees conduct themselves. We endeavour to live up to the high standards the public has a right to expect from us.

Ethical governance or the ethical framework refers to the processes and procedures and culture and values which ensure high standards of ethical behaviour. This part of the Council's website has information on standards and the ethical framework that is applicable to members.

As required by legislation Sandwell Council has adopted a Code of Conduct which sets out the rules governing the behaviour of the authority's members. The Code includes the provisions of the Model Code of Conduct approved by Parliament. The Code covers all elected, co-opted and independent members of local authorities and requires them, for example, to treat others with respect, not to use their position improperly, to register interests etc.

Underpinning (and annexed to) the Code are the 10 general principles of conduct for members. These are selflessness, honesty and integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, personal judgement, respect for others, duty to uphold the law, stewardship and leadership.

The local ethical standards framework gives Sandwell Council the responsibility for upholding the ethical behaviour of its members. The Council has the power to investigate those members whose behaviour falls short of the standards expected of them.

If you want to make a complaint about the conduct of a councillor you must do so in writing. The complaint form and associated information can be downloaded from this site [see below] or is available from Neeraj Sharma, Monitoring Officer, tel: 0121 569 3172, email: neeraj_sharma@sandwell.gov.uk or in her absence Michelle Broxton, Deputy Monitoring Officer, tel: 0121 569 3236, email: michelle_broxton@sandwell.gov.uk or Stewart Wright, Deputy Monitoring Officer, tel: 0121 569 3267, email: stewart_wright@sandwell.gov.uk.

Sandwell Council has appointed a Standards Committee to help maintain and promote high ethical standards. It currently comprises 8 councillors or members of the authority and 5 independent people (who are not councillors or employees of the Council).

Sub-Committees of the Standards Committee consider all aspects of complaints about the behaviour of members of the Council if such conduct is covered by the Members' Code of Conduct.

The Standards Board for England provides guidance to help members, employees and standards committees to successfully interpret the Code of Conduct.

You can find out much more information about the ethical framework in Sandwell Council by clicking on the links below. You may also contact Neeraj Sharma, Monitoring Officer on 0121 569 3172, or in her absence Michelle Broxton, Deputy Monitoring Officer on 0121 569 3236 or Stewart Wright, Deputy Monitoring Officer on 0121 569 3267 if you have any comments or queries or indeed if you wish to make a complaint.

Information on Making a Complaint

• Complaint Form
• Information for Potential Complainants
• Initial Assessment of Standards Complaints - Assessment and Review Criteria
• Local Assessment of Complaints - Standards Board for England Guidance
• Monitoring Officer Protocol - Assessment and Review of Complaints
• Policy on the handling of anonymous complaints about member conduct
• Requests for anonymity flowchart
• Members Complaints Feedback Questionnaire for Complainant
• Members Complaints Feedback Questionnaire for Members
• Members Complaints Feedback Questionnaire for Witnesses
• Protocol for the Informal Resolution of Concerns in Relation to the Members' Code of Conduct

General Information

• Code of Conduct Leaflet
• Members' Code of Conduct
• Local Guidance on Treating Others with Respect - Paragraph 3(1) of the Members' Code of Conduct
• Protocol for Members on Gifts and Hospitality
• Members' declaration of interests (attached to individual members details on the Committee Management Information System - link to index page)
• Standards Committee Annual Report
• Agendas and Papers for Sandwell Council's Standards Committee
• Standards Board for England
• Adjudication Panel for England