Member conduct
Specialist legal advice and support for local and police
authorities in member conduct and ethical standards cases.
Local and police authority members are subject
to unique public scrutiny in the execution of their duties. Advice
and support on a wide range of legal issues are essential to
ensuring that the individuals and employers concerned manage their
responsibilities effectively.
Weightmans’ Member Conduct team is extensively
experienced in this area, and has assisted authorities on all kinds
of member conduct matters for many years. Our approach is based on
delivering high quality customer service and excellent value for
money.
Training is one of our most
important and cost-effective services, enabling officers to manage
every situation with a full understanding of the legal issues and
practicalities involved. We provide off-the-peg or bespoke training
courses focused on improving or refreshing understanding of the
Code of Conduct, developing the skills of Standards Committees and
their advisers, and advising on changes in the law.
Our courses are highly interactive and include
mock hearings and mock assessments of sample complaints, as well as
case study-based training on the Code of Conduct and topical issues
such as the new ethical framework. We also provide training related
to Standards Committee hearings, Monitoring Officer investigations,
Mediation for Monitoring officers and complaints handling
Our Investigations services
range from basic low-cost factual investigations through to full
investigations by experienced lawyers. We understand how the
relevant authorities work, are sensitive to the political element
of some complaints, and understand the importance of investigations
being completed on time.
We also have unrivalled experience in the
conduct of Hearings at local and national level,
including Standards Committee hearings. This includes supporting
the chairperson at meetings, providing advice throughout the
pre-hearing process and advising on the proper form of written
decisions to ensure that challenges are reduced.
Mediation or conciliation is
often the key to successful resolution of member conduct issues.
Our accredited mediators are highly experienced in this discipline
and our expertise can help to reduce the number of allegations
made.
Through our
Consultancy service, we provide systems
reviews and in-depth analysis to help maintain and improve
standards, avoid problems and raise levels of performance. This
service includes instituting improvement and development measures
for Standards Committees and preparation for reviews by the
Standards Board for England. We also advise on the conduct of
individuals acting as Board members on partnership Boards, or as
directors or partners of arm’s length
organisations.
Every month in our Local Government newsletter,
we answer ethical standards questions. These questions are
generated by our readers or from the experience of our people. For
full details of the questions and answers please click here.
To download a copy of our Ethical Standard's
mini-guide please click here.
For further information please contact Claire Lefort on 020 7822
1935 or email claire.lefort@weightmans.com
"Claire Lefort and Graeme Creer are extremely knowledgable
practitioners."
Kris Johnston - Blaby Distrct
Council
