The Council is currently looking for one Independent Person and one reserve Independent Person to support the work of its Standards Committee in dealing with complaints about the conduct of Councillors.

The role of Independent Person will be to assist the Council in promoting and maintaining high standards of conduct amongst its elected members and town and parish councillors. The Independent Person will be consulted on the decision to investigate complaints and before making a decision on an investigated complaint. The appointed person may be consulted on other standards matters, including by the member who is subject to an allegation.

A fixed allowance of £1,117 per annum, subject to Council approval, will be payable to the Independent Person and £335 per annum will be payable to the Reserve Independent Person. The Council will also reimburse travel and subsistence expenses.

The Standards Committee meet approximately up to five times a year. (Note: meetings of the Standards Committee itself will normally be held during the evening at 7pm at Ripley Town Hall. Hearings Panels will normally be held during the day).

Further details of the Standards Committee, role description, application form and a person specification may be obtained from Sue Hewkin, Democratic Services Officer (Standards & Scrutiny), Chief Executive's Department, Town Hall, Ripley, Derbyshire DE5 3BT Telephone: 01773 841633. Email: sue.hewkin@ambervalley.gov.uk. A copy of the recruitment pack can also be obtained from the Council's website at www.ambervalley.gov.uk . Anyone who wishes to have an informal discussion before applying, should contact John Grady, Assistant Chief Executive & Monitoring Officer on 01773 841630.

The closing date for applications is 6 June 2012.

Notes to editors
About the Standards Committee
The business of the Committee includes monitoring the effectiveness of the Borough Councils new Code of Conduct, arranging training for members on this and similar issues and dealing with allegations of breaches of the Code and the Codes operated by its 31 constituent Parish Councils. The Committee will comprise six elected members, two parish representatives and one independent member and is one of seven main committees and boards at Amber Valley Borough Council.