Getting up to speed
A quick beginners’ guide to the Code of Conduct and the Standards Board, aimed at delegates who are new to the Code or the conference.

Speakers

• Natalie Ainscough, Policy Adviser,
  the Standards Board for England
   
• Glenys Stacey, Chief Executive,
  the Standards Board for England

Opening plenary

Welcome to the Seventh Annual Assembly of Standards Committees. This session is open to all delegates and includes speeches from the Chair and Chief Executive of the Standards Board, and an opening address from the Minister.

Chair

• Dr Robert Chilton, Chair,
  the Standards Board for England  
  

Speakers

• Glenys Stacey, Chief Executive,
  the Standards Board for England 
   
• Minister (to be confirmed)

Welcome

Supporting local standards
The minister opens the conference by setting out the government’s commitment to local standards and its proposals for the future.

Local standards in action: The first six months
The new local system for complaints has been in action for six months. The Standards Board reports back on what local delivery has meant in practice, bringing you the latest information and feedback on the standards framework

Over to you
An opportunity to pose questions to the morning’s speakers.

Breakout sessions

Alternative action masterclass (session fully booked)
Mentoring, mediation and guidance can be effective alternative actions to investigation. They can also help authorities to resolve longstanding issues of inappropriate member behaviour. This session gives an overview of the processes and benefits of alternative actions. Delegates work through scenarios to build their understanding of when an alternative action may be appropriate, and how to implement it.

Useful for all delegates.

Workshop

Speakers

• Alan Eastwood, Director of Legal and Democratic Services, Bolton Council 
   
• Suzan Hemmingway, Assistant Director,
  Corporate Services, City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council
   
• Jennifer Rogers, Ethical Standards Officer,
  the Standards Board for England

What went wrong?
What happens if investigations and hearings don't go to plan? This session highlights learning from case examples where these processes have not worked as effectively as they could. Delegates hear what went wrong and how they can use these lessons to improve their management of local investigations and hearings.

Useful for all delegates.

Mini plenary

Chair

• Elizabeth Hall, Board Member,
  the Standards Board for England

Speakers

• Hazel Salisbury, Director of Casework,
  the Standards Board for England
  
  

Balancing act
Is it possible, or even desirable, to have a consistent, national approach to managing standards? Should standards committees take into account local attitudes, opinions and precedents? This session gives delegates a chance to discuss these issues and start to consider their criteria for consistent and effective handling of local cases.

Useful for all delegates.

Workshop

Chair

• Mehboob Khan, Board Member,
  the Standards Board for England

Speakers

• Jayne Francis, Head of Law and Democracy,
  Nottinghamshire County Council
   
• Mark Heath, Solicitor to the Council,
  Southampton City Council
   
• Anne Rehill, Advice and Guidance Manager,
  the Standards Board for England
  

Mind the gap: Setting standards for joint working
Joint and partnership working are high on the agenda of many standards committees and ensuring partnership organisations work in line with local authority standards is a key issue. In this session, expert speakers assess the accountability gap in partnerships and joint working. The session will help delegates to identify appropriate behaviours and governance for joint working, including the role of council leaders and chief executives in ensuring accountability.

Useful for all delegates.

Mini plenary

Chair

• Sir Ron Watson, Board Member,
  the Standards Board for England

Speakers

• Hannah Pearson, Research and Policy Adviser,
  the Standards Board for England
  
  
• Tony Redmond, Local Government Ombudsman,
  Commission for Local Administration in England
  
  
• Vanessa Walker, Principal Consultant, Governance Lead, Improvement and Development Agency
  
  

Delivering local assessment (session fully booked)
This session is for all delegates who really want to get to grips with the local assessment process and understand the key steps involved. Using case examples, delegates work through each stage of the process, from the point the authority receives the complaint, to when the member is notified of the result of the assessment.

Useful for all delegates who are new to local assessment, or want to improve their understanding of the process.

Workshop

Speakers

• Alison Dennett, Acting Monitoring Officer,
  Hull County Council
  
  
• Mark Jones, Principal Legal Adviser,
  the Standards Board for England
  
  
• Jo Simpkins, Policy Adviser,
  the Standards Board for England
  
  

Delivering local investigations
This session brings delegates up to speed with each stage of the investigations process. Delegates will work through case examples to build their understanding of the key steps involved and how to implement them in their authority. 

Useful for all delegates, particularly monitoring officers.

Workshop

Speakers

• Maria Lucas, Head of Legal and Democratic Services,
  North Tyneside Council
  
  
• Matt Richards, Peripatetic Investigator,
  the Standards Board for England
  
  
• Jon Wigmore, Ethical Standards Officer,
  the Standards Board for England
  
  

First response
This session focuses on how to manage the assessment of complex and challenging complaints, for example, those that cover more than one part of the Code, include more than one member or span a long period of time. Using case scenarios, it explains how to review, and organise evidence and present complex complaints to a standards committee for assessment. Delegates hear how to decide what action to take in response to a complaint, how to identify potential conflicts of interest, and decide when to refer cases back to the Standards Board. 

Mainly aimed at monitoring officers who already have experience of handling local assessments.

Workshop

Speakers

• Quentin Baker, Assistant Director, Legal and Democratic Services, City of York Council
  
  
• Freda Sharkey, Acting Head of Legal,
  the Standards Board for England

The Code made clear
An informative presentation and discussion, taking delegates through cases which help to illustrate and clarify complex, problematic or new areas of the Code.

Useful for all delegates.

Workshop

Chair

• Mike Kendall, Board Member,
  the Standards Board for England (to be confirmed)

Speakers

• Storm Westmaas, Principal Legal Adviser,
  the Standards Board for England
  
  

Communicating with communities
A frequent comment from delegates at the 2007 Assembly was that they wanted their communities to understand what they did, and the difference this made. This session provides practical suggestions on how standards committees can improve their communication with the local community, including finding out what your community already knows, communicating clearly in your written materials, and working well with the media to raise awareness of your work.

Useful for standards committee members.

Mini plenary

Chair

• Judy Simons, Board Member,
  the Standards Board for England

Speakers

• Richard Scott, Head of Communications,
  the Standards Board for England
   
• Ed Welsh, Programme Director, Media and campaigns,
  Local Government Association
  
  

Questions and answers: New standards committee members
An open house Q&A session for new or recently appointed standards committee members and chairs.

Q&A

Speakers

• Paul Hoey, Director of Strategy and Guidance,
  the Standards Board for England 
   
  
• Gylian Murphy, Principal Legal Adviser,
  the Standards Board for England
   
  
• Belinda Shaw, Investigators Manager (chair),
  the Standards Board for England

Plenary: Making an impact?

Has the standards framework made a difference? Do the public have any more confidence in members as a result? Opinion formers discuss the results of research from the Standards Board and Cardiff University on the impact of the standards framework. Delegates are invited to join the debate and pose questions to the speakers.

All delegates attend this session.

Plenary

Chair

• Glenys Stacey, Chief Executive,
  the Standards Board for England 

Speakers 

• Dr Richard Cowell, University of Cardiff
   
• Sir Christopher Kelly, Chair,
  Committee on Standards in Public Life
    
• Ben Page Managing Director, Ipsos Mori Public Affairs

Breakout sessions

Alternative action masterclass
Mentoring, mediation and guidance can be effective alternative actions to investigation. They can also help authorities to resolve longstanding issues of inappropriate member behaviour. This session gives an overview of the processes and benefits of alternative actions. Delegates work through scenarios to build their understanding of when an alternative action may be appropriate, and how to implement it.

Useful for all delegates.

Workshop

Speakers

• Alan Eastwood, Director of Legal and Democratic Services, Bolton Council 
   
• Suzan Hemmingway, Assistant Director,
  Corporate Services, City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council
   
• Jennifer Rogers, Ethical Standards Officer,
  the Standards Board for England

What went wrong?
What happens if investigations and hearings don't go to plan? This session highlights learning from case examples where these processes have not worked as effectively as they could. Delegates hear what went wrong and how they can use these lessons to improve their management of local investigations and hearings.

Useful for all delegates.

Mini plenary

Chair

• Elizabeth Hall, Board Member,
  the Standards Board for England

Speakers

• Hazel Salisbury, Director of Casework,
  the Standards Board for England
  
  

Balancing act
Is it possible, or even desirable, to have a consistent, national approach to managing standards? Should standards committees take into account local attitudes, opinions and precedents? This session gives delegates a chance to discuss these issues and start to consider their criteria for consistent and effective handling of local cases.

Useful for all delegates.

Workshop

Chair

• Anne Rehill, Advice and Guidance Manager,
  the Standards Board for England
  

Speakers

• Jayne Francis, Head of Law and Democracy,
  Nottinghamshire County Council
   
• Mark Heath, Solicitor to the Council,
  Southampton City Council 
  
  

Mind the gap: Setting standards for joint working
Joint and partnership working are high on the agenda of many standards committees and ensuring partnership organisations work in line with local authority standards is a key issue. In this session, expert speakers assess the accountability gap in partnerships and joint working. The session will help delegates to identify appropriate behaviours and governance for joint working, including the role of council leaders and chief executives in ensuring accountability.

Useful for all delegates.

Mini plenary

Chair

• Sir Ron Watson, Board Member,
  the Standards Board for England

Speakers

• Hannah Pearson, Research and Policy Adviser,
  the Standards Board for England
  
  
• Tony Redmond, Local Government Ombudsman,
  Commission for Local Administration in England
  
  
• Vanessa Walker, Principal Consultant, Governance Lead, Improvement and Development Agency
  
  

Delivering local assessment (session fully booked)
This session is for all delegates who really want to get to grips with the local assessment process and understand the key steps involved. Using case examples, delegates work through each stage of the process, from the point the authority receives the complaint, to when the member is notified of the result of the assessment.

Useful for all delegates who are new to local assessment, or want to improve their understanding of the process.

Workshop

Speakers

• Alison Dennett, Acting Monitoring Officer,
  Hull County Council
  
  
• Mark Jones, Principal Legal Adviser,
  the Standards Board for England
  
  
• Jo Simpkins, Policy Adviser,
  the Standards Board for England
  
  

Delivering local investigations
This session brings delegates up to speed with each stage of the investigations process. Delegates will work through case examples to build their understanding of the key steps involved and how to implement them in their authority. 

Useful for all delegates, particularly monitoring officers.

Workshop

Speakers

• Maria Lucas, Head of Legal and Democratic Services,
  North Tyneside Council
  
  
• Matt Richards, Peripatetic Investigator,
  the Standards Board for England
  
  
• Jon Wigmore, Ethical Standards Officer,
  the Standards Board for England
  
  

First response
This session focuses on how to manage the assessment of complex and challenging complaints, for example, those that cover more than one part of the Code, include more than one member or span a long period of time. Using case scenarios, it explains how to review, and organise evidence and present complex complaints to a standards committee for assessment. Delegates hear how to decide what action to take in response to a complaint, how to identify potential conflicts of interest, and decide when to refer cases back to the Standards Board. 

Mainly aimed at monitoring officers who already have experience of handling local assessments.

Workshop

Speakers

• Quentin Baker, Assistant Director, Legal and Democratic Services, City of York Council
  
  
• Freda Sharkey, Acting Head of Legal,
  the Standards Board for England

The Code made clear
An informative presentation and discussion, taking delegates through cases which help to illustrate and clarify complex, problematic or new areas of the Code.

Useful for all delegates.

Workshop

Chair

• Mike Kendall, Board Member,
  the Standards Board for England (to be confirmed)

Speakers

• Storm Westmaas, Principal Legal Adviser,
  the Standards Board for England
  
  

Communicating with communities
A frequent comment from delegates at the 2007 Assembly was that they wanted their communities to understand what they did, and the difference this made. This session provides practical suggestions on how standards committees can improve their communication with the local community, including finding out what your community already knows, communicating clearly in your written materials, and working well with the media to raise awareness of your work.

Useful for standards committee members.

Mini plenary

Chair

• Judy Simons, Board Member,
  the Standards Board for England

Speakers

• Richard Scott, Head of Communications,
  the Standards Board for England
   
• Ed Welsh, Programme Director, Media and campaigns,
  Local Government Association
  
  

Questions and answers: Monitoring officers

An open house Q&A session for new or recently appointed standards committee members and chairs.

Q&A

Speakers

• Paul Hoey, Director of Strategy and Guidance,
  the Standards Board for England 
   
  
• Gylian Murphy, Principal Legal Adviser,
  the Standards Board for England
   
  
• Belinda Shaw, Investigators Manager (chair),
  the Standards Board for England

Fringe events (optional)
A range of fringe events  from local government organisations.

Conference dinner
Dress code is smart or smart-casual.
Cash bar available.
Live music.

Breakout sessions

In confidence
The move to local regulation means that standards committees, as well as monitoring officers, will be responsible for protecting the personal information of both complainants and members. It is therefore important that they have a good awareness of issues relating to confidentiality of information. This session uses case examples to provide guidance on key areas of the Data Protection Act, Freedom of Information Act and other relevant areas of the legal framework. It also outlines the pitfalls of poor information management and how to avoid them.

Useful for all delegates.

Mini plenary

Speakers

• Bernadette Livesey, Chief Law and Administration Officer, Calderdale Council
  
  
• Lynne Shackley Guidance and Promotions team, Information Commissioners Office
  
  
• Storm Westmaas, Principal Legal Adviser,
  the Standards Board for England
  
  

Keeping track of standards: Monitoring and support
This session explains how the Standards Board will monitor how local arrangements are working. It describes how we will support authorities which are experiencing difficulties and how we can help them to improve their performance.

Useful for all delegates.

Mini plenary

Speakers

• Fiona McMillan, Deputy Monitoring Officer,
  South Cambridgeshire District Council
  
  
• John Williams, Senior Policy Adviser,
  the Standards Board for England
   
• Alex Oram, Peripatetic Investigator
  the Standards Board for England
  
  

Delivering local assessment (session fully booked)
This session is for all delegates who really want to get to grips with the local assessment process and understand the key steps involved. Using case examples, delegates work through each stage of the process, from the point the authority receives the complaint, to when the member is notified of the result of the assessment.

Useful for all delegates who are new to local assessment, or want to improve their understanding of the process.

Workshop

Speakers

• Natalie Ainscough,Policy Adviser,
  the Standards Board for England
    
• Joy Bowes, Head of Legal and Democratic Services,
  St Edmundsbury Borough Council
    
• Emma Webb, Policy Adviser,
  the Standards Board for England
  
  

Delivering local determinations and setting sanctions (session fully booked)
A work-through of the local determinations process, using case examples to demonstrate each step. This session uses case examples to demonstrate what factors should be considered when setting sanctions. The session also includes information on how to prepare and present cases to the Adjudication Panel for England.

Useful for all delegates.

Workshop

Speakers

• Simon Bird, Deputy President,
  Adjudication Panel for England
  
  
• Mark Jones, Principal Legal Adviser,
  the Standards Board for England
  
  

Joining the dots: Understanding corporate governance
This session looks in detail at the relationship and shared agenda between standards committees and corporate governance, scrutiny and audit committees. Delegates will discuss how to manage the possible overlaps and tensions between these committees, and how to ensure they work effectively together to deliver real benefits for the community.

Useful for all delegates.

Mini plenary

Speakers

• Cara Afzal, Deputy Research and Practice Manager,
  the Standards Board for England
  
  
• Jessica Crowe, Executive Director,
  Centre for Public Scrutiny
  
  
• Gillian Fawcett, Senior Fellow,
  Organisational Development, OPM
  
  

Mediation in action
A practical workshop giving delegates an introduction to mediation skills. This session gives an overview of the key skills mediators need to use this valuable tool, and gives delegates a chance to discuss and experience how they can be applied.

Useful for all delegates, particularly monitoring officers.

Workshop

Speakers

• James Baldwin, Policy Adviser,
  the Standards Board for England
  
  
• Lesley Crannam, Consultant, WiT Partnership Ltd
   
• April Struthers, Consultant, WiT Partnership Ltd
  
  

Planning ahead
Do you believe the Code of Conduct prevents you from engaging with developers and taking part in planning decisions? This workshop takes delegates through difficult planning scenarios to demonstrate when and how you can represent your community. It also discusses some of the planning pitfalls and how to avoid them.

Particularly useful for standards committee members.

Workshop

Speakers

• Anne Rehill, Advice and Guidance Manager,
  the Standards Board for England
  
  
• Sarah Richards, Head of Planning Advisory Service,
  Planning Advisory Service
  
  

The parish perspective
Principal authorities are now responsible for receiving and assessing complaints about town and parish councillors. This makes effective engagement and clear communication more vital than ever. Expert speakers discuss the best practice approaches, resources and strategies delegates can use to engage effectively with town and parish councillors in their local area. 

Useful for standards committee members and other delegates who work with town and parish councils.

Mini plenary

Chair

• Shirley Flint, Board Member,
  the Standards Board for England

Speakers

• Kirsty Cole, Strategic Director, Corporate Service, ACSeS/ Newark and Sherwood District Council
  
  
• Nick Randle, Chief Executive, Society of Local Council Clerks
  
  

Focus on fire, police and park authorities
The local standards system will bring unique challenges for fire, police and park authorities. This session gives delegates the opportunity to discuss these challenges, including building effective joint arrangements and recruitment and sharing of independent members.

Mainly aimed at members of fire, police or park authority standards committees and delegates who work with them.

Workshop

Speakers

• Jim Cessford, Policy Adviser,
  the Standards Board for England
  
  
• Jonathan Goolden, Managing Director, Jonathan Goolden Solicitors
  
  

Questions and answers: Standards committee members
An open house Q&A session for standards committee members.

Q&A

Speakers

• Paul Hoey, Director of Strategy and Guidance,
  the Standards Board for England
  
  
• Freda Sharkey, Acting Head of Legal,
  the Standards Board for England
  
  
• Belinda Shaw, Investigators Manager (chair),
  the Standards Board for England

Refreshments
Tea and coffee available.

Plenary: A higher level

What makes a standards committee effective? What knowledge and resources are required to help you improve the performance of your committee, and can an effective standards committee contribute to the good governance of your authority?

This session aims to answer these questions.  Expert speakers give examples of how you can raise the standard in your authority, move beyond basic compliance with the Code and make a real difference to your community.

This session includes an opportunity for delegates to ask questions and discuss with the panel.

This session is for all delegates.

Plenary

Chair

• Dr Robert Chilton, Chair,
  the Standards Board for England

Speakers  

• Alison Kelly, Strategy Advisor, Governance and Accountability, Audit Commission
    
• Dr Michael Macauley, Head of the Centre for Public Service Management, Reader in Governance and Public Ethics, Teeside Business School

Lunch

Breakout sessions

In confidence
The move to local regulation means that standards committees, as well as monitoring officers, will be responsible for protecting the personal information of both complainants and members. It is therefore important that they have a good awareness of issues relating to confidentiality of information. This session uses case examples to provide guidance on key areas of the Data Protection Act, Freedom of Information Act and other relevant areas of the legal framework. It also outlines the pitfalls of poor information management and how to avoid them.

Useful for all delegates.

Mini plenary

Speakers

• Bernadette Livesey, Chief Law and Administration Officer, Calderdale Council
  
  
• Lynne Shackley Guidance and Promotions team, Information Commissioners Office
  
  
• Storm Westmaas, Principal Legal Adviser,
  the Standards Board for England
  
  

Keeping track of standards: Monitoring and support
This session explains how the Standards Board will monitor how local arrangements are working. It describes how we will support authorities which are experiencing difficulties and how we can help them to improve their performance.

Useful for all delegates.

Mini plenary

Speakers

• Fiona McMillan, Deputy Monitoring Officer,
  South Cambridgeshire District Council
  
  
• John Williams, Senior Policy Adviser,
  the Standards Board for England
   
• Alex Oram, Peripatetic Investigator
  the Standards Board for England
  
  
  

Delivering local assessment (session fully booked)
This session is for all delegates who really want to get to grips with the local assessment process and understand the key steps involved. Using case examples, delegates work through each stage of the process, from the point the authority receives the complaint, to when the member is notified of the result of the assessment.

Useful for all delegates who are new to local assessment, or want to improve their understanding of the process.

Workshop

Speakers

• Natalie Ainscough,Policy Adviser,
  the Standards Board for England
    
• Joy Bowes, Head of Legal and Democratic Services,
  St Edmundsbury Borough Council
    
• Emma Webb, Policy Adviser,
  the Standards Board for England
  
  

Delivering local determinations and setting sanctions (session fully booked)
A work-through of the local determinations process, using case examples to demonstrate each step. This session uses case examples to demonstrate what factors should be considered when setting sanctions. The session also includes information on how to prepare and present cases to the Adjudication Panel for England.

Useful for all delegates.

Workshop

Speakers

• Simon Bird, Deputy President,
  Adjudication Panel for England
  
  
• Mark Jones, Principal Legal Adviser,
  the Standards Board for England
  
  

Joining the dots: Understanding corporate governance
This session looks in detail at the relationship and shared agenda between standards committees and corporate governance, scrutiny and audit committees. Delegates will discuss how to manage the possible overlaps and tensions between these committees, and how to ensure they work effectively together to deliver real benefits for the community.

Useful for all delegates.

Mini plenary

Speakers

• Cara Afzal, Deputy Research and Practice Manager,
  the Standards Board for England
  
  
• Jessica Crowe, Executive Director,
  Centre for Public Scrutiny
  
  
• Gillian Fawcett, Senior Fellow,
  Organisational Development, OPM
  
  

Mediation in action
A practical workshop giving delegates an introduction to mediation skills. This session gives an overview of the key skills mediators need to use this valuable tool, and gives delegates a chance to discuss and experience how they can be applied.

Useful for all delegates, particularly monitoring officers.

Workshop

Speakers

• James Baldwin, Policy Adviser,
  the Standards Board for England
  
  
• Lesley Crannam, Consultant, WiT Partnership Ltd
   
• April Struthers, Consultant, WiT Partnership Ltd
  
  

Planning ahead
Do you believe the Code of Conduct prevents you from engaging with developers and taking part in planning decisions? This workshop takes delegates through difficult planning scenarios to demonstrate when and how you can represent your community. It also discusses some of the planning pitfalls and how to avoid them.

Particularly useful for standards committee members.

Workshop

Speakers

• Anne Rehill, Advice and Guidance Manager,
  the Standards Board for England
  
  
• Sarah Richards, Head of Planning Advisory Service,
  Planning Advisory Service
  
  

The parish perspective
Principal authorities are now responsible for receiving and assessing complaints about town and parish councillors. This makes effective engagement and clear communication more vital than ever. Expert speakers discuss the best practice approaches, resources and strategies delegates can use to engage effectively with town and parish councillors in their local area. 

Useful for standards committee members and other delegates who work with town and parish councils.

Mini plenary

Chair

• Shirley Flint, Board Member,
  the Standards Board for England

Speakers

• Kirsty Cole, Strategic Director, Corporate Service, ACSeS/ Newark and Sherwood District Council
  
  
• Nick Randle, Chief Executive, Society of Local Council Clerks
  
  

Focus on fire, police and park authorities
The local standards system will bring unique challenges for fire, police and park authorities. This session gives delegates the opportunity to discuss these challenges, including building effective joint arrangements and recruitment and sharing of independent members.

Mainly aimed at members of fire, police or park authority standards committees and delegates who work with them.

Workshop

Speakers

• Jim Cessford, Policy Adviser,
  the Standards Board for England
  
  
• Jonathan Goolden, Managing Director, Jonathan Goolden Solicitors
  
  

Questions and answers: Standards committee members
An open house Q&A session for standards committee members.

Q&A

Speakers

• Paul Hoey, Director of Strategy and Guidance,
  the Standards Board for England
  
  
• Freda Sharkey, Acting Head of Legal,
  the Standards Board for England
  
  
• Belinda Shaw, Investigators Manager (chair),
  the Standards Board for England

Comfort break

Closing plenary

Delivering the goods
Summing up the key issues covered at this year's conference.

Speakers

• Dr Robert Chilton, Chair,
  the Standards Board for England
  

Local standards in action
Outlining the next steps for delegates and the Standards Board as we put local standards into action.

Speakers

• Glenys Stacey, Chief Executive,
  the Standards Board for England