Councillors

Co-opted members

The Council values input from professionals when considering issues that relate to services and delivery of services. Co-opted members are non-councillor members of certain committees and panels, appointed where specialist input is required or where an outside view of the council can be useful in guiding councillors’ deliberations. Co-opted members do not have voting rights and they are unable to send a substitute in their absence.

Co-opted members are individuals selected via an application process to represent a specific area of interest or issue of consideration. These representatives are not elected members of the Council and are appointed because of their level of knowledge and experience. These co-opted members make a very useful contribution to discussions and help make the correct decisions in relation to important matters.

A single co-opted member resides on the following committee and scrutiny panels:

1. Audit and Standards Committee
2. Business, Regeneration and Planning Overview and Scrutiny Panel
3. Housing and Communities Overview and Scrutiny Panel
4. Environment and Leisure Overview and Scrutiny Panel
5. Health and Corporate Resources Overview and Scrutiny Panel

Co-opted members are remunerated for their time and input. Details of which are included in the Members’ Allowance Scheme as included in the Constitution.

Independent persons

Independent persons are people appointed to oversee the code of conduct and complaints against councillors. They cannot be employees of the council or councillors.

They are not legally subject to the code of conduct or requirements on declarations but they are expected to observe the principles governing councillors behaviour in carrying out their duties. They may be invited to attend meetings of the Audit and Standards Committee in an advisory, non-voting capacity, providing a report following an investigation of a Member complaint if appointed by the Monitoring Officer.