Ombudsman Wales works with Monitoring Officers and Standards Committees of local authorities to help councillors maintain the standards of conduct and to meet public expectations by sustaining the highest standards of conduct in public life.
Their aim is to support proper decision making and the proper use of public resources in order to maintain public confidence in local government and in the democratic process itself.
They are also responsible for considering complaints that members of local authorities, community councils, fire and rescue authorities, national park authorities and police and crime panels in Wales have breached their authority’s Code of Conduct.
They strongly believe that Code of Conduct training is essential to being a good councillor, and encourage all new councillors to participate in that training. They also encourage councillors to have a look at their ‘Information for Elected Members’ page on their website. It includes all of their resources to help councillors in their new role, including:
- guidance for councillors on the Model Code of Conduct
- factsheets on different aspects of their Code of Conduct process – including how they determine whether it is in the public interest for them to investigate a complaint
- an explanation of what they do when they get a complaint about an elected member’s conduct
- guidance on how to submit a complaint about a councillor’s conduct.
They will also be adding more video resources to that site shortly.
Michelle Morris, the Public Services Ombudsman, said: “I would like to offer my personal congratulations to all returning Councillors including those new in role and those returning for another term in office. I look forward to working with you and your Officers to support you in maintaining the standards of conduct set out in the Code of Conduct for Councillors.
When you sign your declaration to be a Councillor you are agreeing to abide by the Code and I encourage you all to attend the training offered to you and to access the Guidance and other information on our website.”
If you would like more information about the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales’ Code of Conduct work, you can contact them on 0300 790 0203 or [email protected]