Standards Committee Independent Members

The Government's ethical framework for conduct in local government affairs calls for independent membership of a Standards Committee to manage and advise upon the adoption and monitoring of standards of conduct for all its Members.

Northumberland National Park Authority, which has 22 members appointed by various stakeholders in the National Park, has established a Standards Committee. The Authority agreed in March 2008 to increase the size of the Standards Committee to seven members, three of whom are independent, to ensure that the Standards Committee is in a position to carry out the new role passed down from the Standards Board for England under legislation enacted on 8th May 2008. This legislation requires the committee to undertake hearings into allegations of misconduct against members of the Authority, should they arise. To ensure independence from the Authority all Standard Committee meetings and any sub-committee meetings will be chaired by an independent member.

The current membership of the Standards Committee is:

• David Fruin - Independent Member (Chairman)
• Kate Monaghan - Independent Member
• Keith McLeod- Independent Member
• Robert Cornall - Secretary of State
• Alasdair Mitchell - Secretary of State
• Alan Sharp - Local Authority
• Philip Straker - Authority Member