Councillor conduct
All councillors have signed up and are bound by a Code of Conduct which covers how they should behave in public office. There may be occasions when you believe that a councillor's behaviour falls short of that required of them. The council amended its Code of Conduct in April 2016
The Monitoring Officer is an employee of the council who provides advice to members on the Code of Conduct and carries out independent investigations about the behaviour of councillors. Reports of the Monitoring Officer are made to the Standards Committee. The Standards Committee has responsibility for dealing with complaints against councillors.
Making a complaint
If you have a complaint or are concerned about the conduct of either a district councillor or a town or parish councillor within the Epping Forest District Council Scheme, you can contact the Local Assessment Officer, Simon Hill to discuss the nature of your complaint in confidence
- By telephone on 01992 564249
- By email to shill@eppingforestdc.gov.uk
Any complaint made to the Council's Monitoring Officer must state which section of the code the Councillor concerned has breached and must contain evidence sufficient to investigate the matter. A form is available on request.
You must submit it in writing to:
- The Monitoring Officer, Governance Directorate
Epping Forest District Council, Civic Offices, High Street, Epping, Essex CM16 4BZ
The role of the Standards Committee
The Standards Committee was established under the Local Government Act 2000. Since that time the Committee has overseen the standards of elected members. From July 2012 the Committee will be constituted in accordance with the Localism Act 2011. Details of its terms of reference and membership can be found on the Standards Committee section of the Committee Management System. The Committee is appointed annually by the council.
All of our Standards Committee agenda and minutes are available on our website.
Parish and town councils
The Standards Committee operates according to procedures agreed by the council and incorporated into its constitution. Its responsibilities include investigating and ruling on complaints against town and parish councillors of authorities affiliated to the district council scheme as well as members of Epping Forest District Council.
More details about town and parish arrangements can be found by clicking the plus sign below
Town and Parish Councils Standards Arrangements
Town and Parish Council's Standards Arrangements
6 Parish Councils are affiliated to the Epping Forest District Council's Standards Committee. They have also adopted the same Code of Conduct and Complaints Procedure used by Epping Forest District Council.
- Chigwell Parish
- Epping Upland Parish
- Matching Parish
- Roydon Parish
- Sheering Parish
- Willingale Parish
13 Parish and Town Councils have adopted the same Code of Conduct and Complaints procedure but have opted to join a Joint Parish and Town Standards Committee which will have the same role as the Epping Forest District Council Committee.
- Buckhurst Hill Parish
- Epping Town
- Lambourne Parish
- Loughton Town
- Moreton, Bobbingworth and the Lavers Parish
- Nazeing Parish
- North Weald Bassett Parish
- Ongar Town
- Stanford Rivers Parish
- Stapleford Abbotts Parish
- Theydon Bois Parish
- Theydon Mount Parish
- Waltham Abbey Town
4 Parish Councils have decided to exercise their discretion in not affiliating to any Standards Committee. They have adopted the same code of conduct and complaints procedure which will operate for this Council and the other Parish and Town Councils.
- Abbess, Beauchamp and Berners Roding Parish
- Fyfield Parish
- Stapleford Tawney Parish
- Theydon Garnon Parish
High Ongar Parish Council is the exception and not joined any Standards Committee and adopted its own Code of Conduct and Complaints procedure.
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