Agenda item

The Committee noted that under Section 28 of the Localism Act 2011 (“the Act”) the Council was required to appoint at least one independent person whose views may be sought regarding any allegations of misconduct against a councillor and the arrangements under which any such allegations can be investigated and determined.

There were currently three Independent Persons who had been appointed by the Council in 2015 and their term of office would end in May 2019.

Although the role of Independent Person was voluntary, the Council was required to advertise the vacancy in such manner as the authority considered likely to bring it to the attention of the public.

As with previous appointments, the Council had entered into a joint arrangement with a number of other councils in Surrey to recruit and appoint Independent Persons.

The Committee considered a report setting out details of the 2019 recruitment process, and the seven candidates who had been recommended for formal appointment as Independent Persons by this Council (and the participating councils) for the four year period from May 2019 to May 2023. 

Having considered the report including the CVs from all seven candidates, the Committee

RESOLVED: That the appointment of the following persons as the Council’s Independent Persons for a four-year term of office expiring in May 2023:

·        Vivienne Cameron

·        Bill Donnelly

·        Paul Eaves

·        Liz Lawrence

·        Roger Pett

·        Bernard Quoroll

·        John Smith

be commended to the Council for formal approval on 9 April 2019.

Reason:

To enable the Council to comply with its obligations under Section 28 (7) of the Localism Act 2011.