Standing Orders
STANDING ORDERS 2018 FOR ENGLAND (REVISED 2020)
reviewed and accepted May 2024 Minute24/072 (i)
Introduction.
1. Rules of debate at meetings.
2. Disorderly conduct at meetings.
3. Meetings generally.
4. Committees and sub-committees.
5. Ordinary council meetings.
6. Extraordinary meetings of the council, committees and sub-committees.
7. Previous resolutions.
8. Voting on appointments.
9. Motions for a meeting that require written notice to be given to the proper officer.
10. Motions at a meeting that do not require written notice.
11. Management of information.
12. Draft minutes.
13. Code of conduct and dispensations.
14. Code of conduct complaints.
15. Proper officer.
16. Responsible financial officer
17. Accounts and accounting statements.
18. Financial controls and procurement.
19. Handling staff matters.
20. Responsibilities to provide information.
21. Responsibilities under data protection legislation.
22. Relations with the press/media.
23. Execution and sealing of legal deeds.
24. Communicating with district and county or unitary councillors.
25. Restrictions on councillor activities.
26. Standing orders generally.
Introduction
These model standing orders update the National Association of Local Council (NALC) model standing orders contained in “Local Councils Explained” by Meera Tharmarajah (© 2013 NALC). This publication contains new model standing orders which reference new legislation introduced after 2013 when the last model standing orders were published.
How to sue model standing orders
Standing orders are the written rules of a local council. Standing orders are essential to regulate the proceedings of a meeting. A council may also use standing orders to confirm or refer to various internal organisational and administrative arrangements. The standing orders of a council are not the same as the policies of a council but standing orders may refer to them.
Local councils operate within a wide statutory framework. NALC model standing orders incorporate and reference many statutory requirements to which councils are subject. It is not possible for the model standing orders to contain or reference all the statutory or legal requirements which apply to local councils. For example, it is not practical for model standing orders to document all obligations under data protection legislation. The statutory requirements to which a council is subject apply whether or not they are incorporated in a council’s standing orders.
The model standing orders do not include model financial regulations. Financial regulations are standing orders to regulate and control the financial affairs and accounting procedures of a local council. The financial regulations, as opposed to the standing orders of a council, include most of the requirements relevant to the council’s Responsible Financial Officer. Model financial regulations are available to councils in membership of NALC.
Drafting notes
Model standing orders that are in bold type contain legal and statutory requirements. It is recommended that councils adopt them without changing them or their meaning. Model standing orders not in bold are designed to help councils operate effectively but they do not contain statutory requirements so they may be adopted as drafted or amended to suit a council’s needs. It is NALC’s view that all model standing orders will generally be suitable for councils.
For convenience, the word “councillor” is used in model standing orders and, unless the context suggests otherwise, includes a non-councillor with or without voting rights.
A model standing order that includes brackets like this ‘( )’ requires information to be inserted by a council. A model standing order that includes brackets like this ‘[ ]’ and the term ‘OR’ provides alternative options for a council to choose from when determining standing orders.
1. Rules of debate at meetings
1. a. Motions on the agenda shall be considered in the order that they appear unless the order is changed at the discretion of the chairman of the meeting.
1. b. A motion (including an amendment) shall not be progressed unless it has been moved and seconded.
1. c. A motion on the agenda that is not moved by its proposer may be treated by the chairman of the meeting as withdrawn.
1. d. If a motion (including an amendment) has been seconded, it may be withdrawn by the proposer only with the consent of the seconder and the meeting.
1. e. An amendment is a proposal to remove or add words to a motion. It shall not negate the motion.
1. f. If an amendment to the original motion is carried, the original motion becomes the substantive motion upon which further amendment(s) may be moved.
1. g. An amendment shall not be considered unless early verbal notice of it is given at the meeting and, if requested by the chairman of the meeting, is expressed in writing to the chairman.
1. h. A councillor may move an amendment to his own motion if agreed by the meeting. If a motion has already been seconded, the amendment shall be with the consent of the seconder and the meeting.
1. i. If there is more than one amendment to an original or substantive motion, the amendments shall be moved in the order directed by the chairman.
1. j. Subject to standing order 1(k) below, only one amendment shall be moved and debated at a time, the order of which shall be directed by the chairman of the meeting.
1. k. One or more amendments may be discussed together if the chairman of the meeting considers this expedient but each amendment shall be voted upon separately.
1. l. A councillor may not move more than one amendment to an original or substantive motion.
1. m. The mover of an amendment has no right of reply at the end of debate on it.
1. n. Where a series of amendments to an original motion are carried, the mover of the original motion shall have a right of reply either at the end of debate of the first amendment or at the very end of debate on the final substantive motion immediately before it is put to the vote.
1. o. Unless permitted by the chairman of the meeting, a councillor may speak once in the debate on a motion except:
1. o. i. to speak on an amendment moved by another councillor;
1. o. ii. to move or speak on another amendment if the motion has been amended since he last spoke;
1. o. iii. to make a point of order;
1. o. iv. to give a personal explanation; or
1. o. v. in exercise of a right of reply.
1. p. During the debate of a motion, a councillor may interrupt only on a point of order or a personal explanation and the councillor who was interrupted shall stop speaking. A councillor raising a point of order shall identify the standing order which he considers has been breached or specify the other irregularity in the proceedings of the meeting he is concerned by.
1. q. A point of order shall be decided by the chairman of the meeting and his decision shall be final.
1. r. When a motion is under debate, no other motion shall be moved except:
1. r. i. to amend the motion;
1. r. ii. to proceed to the next business;
1. r. iii. to adjourn the debate;
1. r. iv. to put the motion to a vote;
1. r. v. to ask a person to be no longer heard or to leave the meeting;
1. r. vi. to refer a motion to a committee or sub-committee for consideration;
1. r. vii. to exclude the public and press;
1. r. viii. to adjourn the meeting; or
1. r. ix. to suspend particular standing order(s) excepting those which reflect mandatory statutory requirements.
1. s. Before an original or substantive motion is put to the vote, the chairman of the meeting shall be satisfied that the motion has been sufficiently debated and that the mover of the motion under debate has exercised or waived his right of reply.
1. t. Excluding motions moved understanding order 1(r) above, the contributions or speeches by a councillor shall relate only to the motion under discussion and shall not exceed (5) minutes without the consent of the chairman of the meeting.
2. Disorderly conduct at meetings
2. a. No person shall obstruct the transaction of business at a meeting or behave offensively or improperly. If this standing order is ignored, the chairman of the meeting shall request such person(s) to moderate or improve their conduct.
2. b. If person(s) disregard the request of the chairman of the meeting to moderate or improve their conduct, any councillor or the chairman of the meeting may move that the person be no longer heard or excluded from the meeting. The motion, if seconded, shall be put to the vote without discussion.
2. c. If a resolution made under standing order 2(b) above is ignored, the chairman of the meeting may take further reasonable steps to restore order or to progress the meeting. This may include temporarily suspending or closing the meeting.
3. Meetings generally
3. a. Meetings shall not take place in premises which at the time of the meeting are used for the supply of alcohol, unless no other premises are available free of charge or at a reasonable cost.
3. b. The minimum three clear days for notice of a meeting does not include the day on which notice was issued, the day of the meeting, a Sunday, a day of the Christmas break, a day of the Easter break or of a bank holiday or a day appointed for public thanksgiving or mourning.
3. c. The minimum three clear days’ public notice for a meeting does not include the day on which the notice was issued or the day of the meeting unless the meeting is convened at shorter notice.
3. d. Meetings shall be open to the public unless their presence is prejudicial to the public interest by reason of the confidential nature of the business to be transacted or for other special reasons. The public’s exclusion from part or all of a meeting shall be by a resolution which shall give reasons for the public’s exclusion.
3. e. Members of the public may make representations, answer questions and give evidence at a meeting which they are entitled to attend in respect of the business on the agenda.
3. f. The period of time designated for public participation at a meeting in accordance with standing order 3(e) above shall not exceed 30 minutes unless directed by the chairman of the meeting.
3. g. Subject to standing order 3(f) above, a member of the public shall not speak for more than 5 minutes without the consent of the Chairman.
3. h. In accordance with standing order 3(e) above, a question shall not require a response at the meeting nor start a debate on the question. The chairman of the meeting may direct that a written or oral response be given.
3. i. A person shall raise his hand when requesting to speak and stand when speaking (except when a person has a disability or is likely to suffer discomfort. The chairman of the meeting may at any time permit a person to be seated when speaking.
3. i. A person who speaks at a meeting shall direct his comments to the chairman of the meeting.
3. j. Only one person is permitted to speak at a time. If more than one person wants to speak, the chairman of the meeting shall direct the order of speaking.
3. k. The press shall be provided with reasonable facilities for the taking of their report of all or part of a meeting at which they are entitled to be present. Any person who attends a meeting may not orally report or comment about a meeting as it takes place if he/she is present at a meeting of the Parish Council or its Committees, but otherwise may:
3. k. 1. film, photograph or make an audio recording of a meeting;
3. k. 2. use any other means for enabling persons not present to see or hear proceedings at a meeting as it takes place or later;
3. k. 3. report or comment on the proceedings in writing during or after a meeting or orally report or comment after the meeting.
Each venue where a meeting of the Parish Council or its Committees takes place will have a separate designated area for those in attendance to sit that object to being filmed, recorded, photographed or otherwise and to protect children and other vulnerable people where the relevant responsible adult has not given consent for them to be filmed, recorded, photographed or otherwise.
3. l. Subject to standing orders which indicate otherwise, anything authorised or required to be done by, to or before the Chairman of the Council may in his absence be done by, to or before the Vice-Chairman of the Council (if any).
3. m. The Chairman, if present, shall preside at a meeting. If the Chairman is absent from a meeting, the Vice-Chairman, if present, shall preside. If both the Chairman and the Vice-Chairman are absent from a meeting, a councillor as chosen by the councillors present at the meeting shall preside at the meeting.
3. n. Subject to a meeting being quorate, all questions at a meeting shall be decided by a majority of the councillors or councillors with voting rights present and voting.
3. o. The chairman of a meeting may give an original vote on any matter put to the vote, and in the case of an equality of votes may exercise his casting vote whether or not he gave an original vote.
See standing orders 5(i) and (j) below for the different rules that apply in the election of the Chairman of the Council at the annual meeting of the council.
3. p. Unless standing orders provide otherwise, voting on a question shall be by a show of hands. At the request of a councillor, the voting on any question shall be recorded so as to show whether each councillor present and voting gave his vote for or against that question. Such a request shall be made before moving on to the next item of business on the agenda.
3. q. The minutes of a meeting shall include an accurate record of the following:
3. q. i. the time and place of the meeting;
3. q. ii. the names of councillors present and absent;
3. q. iii. interests that have been declared by councillors and non-councillors with voting rights;
3. q. iv. whether a councillor or non-councillor with voting rights left the meeting when matters that they held interests in were being considered;
3. q. v. if there was a public participation session; and
3. q. vi. the resolutions made.
3. r. A councillor or a non-councillor with voting rights who has a disclosable pecuniary interest or another interest as set out in the council’s code of conduct in a matter being considered at a meeting is subject to statutory limitations or restrictions under the code on his right to participate and vote on that matter.
3. s. No business may be transacted at a meeting unless at least one-third of the whole number of members of the council are present and in no case shall the quorum of a meeting be less than three.
See standing order 4d(viii) below for the quorum of a committee or sub-committee meeting.
3. t. If a meeting is or becomes inquorate no business shall be transacted and the meeting shall be closed. The business on the agenda for the meeting shall be adjourned to another meeting.
3. u. A meeting shall not exceed a period of 2 hours.
4 Committees and sub-committees
4. a. Unless the council determines otherwise, a committee may appoint a sub-committee whose terms of reference and members shall be determined by the committee.
4. b. The members of a committee may include non-councillors unless it is a committee which regulates and controls the finances of the council.
4. c. Unless the council determines otherwise, all the members of an advisory committee and a sub-committee of the advisory committee may be non-councillors.
4. d. The council may appoint standing committees or other committees as may be necessary, and:
4. d. i. shall determine their terms of reference;
4. d. ii. shall determine the number and time of the ordinary meetings of a standing committee up until the date of the next annual meeting of full council;
4. d. iii. shall permit a committee, other than in respect of the ordinary meetings of a committee, to determine the number and time of its meetings;
4. d. iv. shall, subject to standing orders 4(b) and (c) above, appoint and determine the terms of office of members of such a committee;
4. d. v. may, subject to standing orders 4(b) and (c) above, appoint and determine the terms of office of the substitute members to a committee whose role is to replace the ordinary members at a meeting of a committee if the ordinary members of the committee confirm to the Proper Officer 3 days before the meeting that they are unable to attend;
4. d. vi. shall, after it has appointed the members of a standing committee, appoint the chairman of the standing committee;
4. d. vii. shall permit a committee other than a standing committee, to appoint its own chairman at the first meeting of the committee;
4. d. viii. shall determine the place, notice requirements and quorum for a meeting of a committee and a sub-committee which shall be no less than three;
4. d. ix. shall determine if the public may participate at a meeting of a committee;
4. d. x. shall determine if the public and press are permitted to attend the meetings of a sub-committee and also the advance public notice requirements, if any, required for the meetings of a sub-committee;
4. d. xi. shall determine if the public may participate at a meeting of a sub-committee that they are permitted to attend; and
4. d. xii. may dissolve a committee.
5 Ordinary council meetings
5. a. In an election year, the annual meeting of the council shall be held on or within 14 days following the day on which the new councillors elected take office.
5. b. In a year which is not an election year, the annual meeting of a council shall be held on such day in May as the council may direct.
5. c. If no other time is fixed, the annual meeting of the council shall take place at 6pm.
5. d. In addition to the annual meeting of the council, at least three other ordinary meetings shall be held in each year on such dates and times as the council directs.
5. e. The first business conducted at the annual meeting of the council shall be the election of the Chairman and Vice-Chairman (if any) of the Council.
5. f. The Chairman of the Council, unless he has resigned or becomes disqualified, shall continue in office and preside at the annual meeting until his successor is elected at the next annual meeting of the council.
5. g. The Vice-Chairman of the Council, if any, unless he resigns or becomes disqualified, shall hold office until immediately after the election of the Chairman of the Council at the next annual meeting of the council.
5. h. In an election year, if the current Chairman of the Council has not been re-elected as a member of the council, he shall preside at the meeting until a successor Chairman of the Council has been elected. The current Chairman of the Council shall not have an original vote in respect of the election of the new Chairman of the Council but must give a casting vote in the case of an equality of votes.
5. i. In an election year, if the current Chairman of the Council has been re-elected as a member of the council, he shall preside at the meeting until a new Chairman of the Council has been elected. He may exercise an original vote in respect of the election of the new Chairman of the Council and must give a casting vote in the case of an equality of votes.
5. j. Following the election of the Chairman of the Council and Vice-Chairman (if any) of the Council at the annual meeting of the council, the business of the annual meeting may include:
5. j. i. In an election year, delivery by the Chairman of the Council and councillors of their acceptance of office forms unless the council resolves for this to be done at a later date. In a year which is not an election year, delivery by the Chairman of the Council of his acceptance of office form unless the council resolves for this to be done at a later date;
5. j. ii. Confirmation of the accuracy of the minutes of the last meeting of the council;
5. j. iii. Receipt of the minutes of the last meeting of a committee;
5. j. iv. Consideration of the recommendations made by a committee;
5. j. v. Review of delegation arrangements to committees, sub-committees, staff and other local authorities;
5. j. vi. Review of the terms of reference for committees;
5. j. vii. Appointment of members to existing committees;
5. j. viii. Appointment of any new committees in accordance with standing order 4 above;
5. j. ix. Review and adoption of appropriate standing orders and financial regulations;
5. j. x. Review of arrangements, including any charters and agency agreements, with other local authorities and review of contributions made to expenditure incurred by other local authorities;
5. j. xi. Review of representation on or work with external bodies and arrangements for reporting back;
5. j. xii. In an election year, to make arrangements with a view to the council becoming eligible to exercise the general power of competence in the future;
5. j. xiii. Review of inventory of land and assets including buildings and office equipment;
5. j. xiv. Confirmation of arrangements for insurance cover in respect of all insured risks;
5. j. xv. Review of the council’s and/or staff subscriptions to other bodies;
5. j. xvi. Review of the council’s complaints procedure;
5. j. xvii. Review of the council’s procedures for handling requests made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the Data Protection Act 1998;
5. j. xviii. Review of the council’s policy for dealing with the press/media; and
5. j. xix. Determining the time and place of ordinary meetings of the full council up to and including the next annual meeting of full council.
6 Extraordinary meetings of the council and committees and sub-committees
6. a. The Chairman of the Council may convene an extraordinary meeting of the council at any time.
6. b. If the Chairman of the Council does not or refuses to call an extraordinary meeting of the council within seven days of having been requested in writing to do so by two councillors, any two councillors may convene an extraordinary meeting of the council. The public notice giving the time, place and agenda for such a meeting must be signed by the two councillors.
6. b. c. The chairman of a committee,[or a sub-committee, may convene an extraordinary meeting of the committee, or the sub-committee, at any time.
6. b. d. If the chairman of a committee, or a sub-committee, does not or refuse to call an extraordinary meeting within 7 days of having been requested by to do so by 2 members of the committee[or the sub-committee, any 2 members of the committee and the sub-committee may convene an extraordinary meeting of a committee and a sub-committee.
7 Previous resolutions
7. a. A resolution shall not be reversed within six months except either by a special motion, which requires written notice by at least 5 Councillors to be given to the Proper Officer in accordance with standing order 9 below, or by a motion moved in pursuance of the recommendation of a committee or a sub-committee.
7. b. When a motion moved pursuant to standing order 7(a) above has been disposed of, no similar motion may be moved within a further six months.
8 Voting on appointments
8. a. Where more than two persons have been nominated for a position to be filled by the council and none of those persons has received an absolute majority of votes in their favour, the name of the person having the least number of votes shall be struck off the list and a fresh vote taken. This process shall continue until a majority of votes is given in favour of one person. A tie in votes may be settled by the casting vote exerciseable by the chairman of the meeting.
9 Motions for a meeting that require written notice to be given to the Proper Officer
9. a. A motion shall relate to the responsibilities of the meeting which it is tabled for and in any event shall relate to the performance of the council’s statutory functions, powers and obligations or an issue which specifically affects the council’s area or its residents.
9. b. No motion may be moved at a meeting unless it is on the agenda and the mover has given written notice of its wording to the Proper Officer at least 12 clear days before the meeting. Clear days do not include the day of the notice or the day of the meeting.
9. c. The Proper Officer may, before including a motion on the agenda received in accordance with standing order 9(b) above, correct obvious grammatical or typographical errors in the wording of the motion.
9. d. If the Proper Officer considers the wording of a motion received in accordance with standing order 9(b) above is not clear in meaning, the motion shall be rejected until the mover of the motion resubmits it in writing to the Proper Officer so that it can be understood at least 7clear days before the meeting.
9. e. If the wording or subject of a proposed motion is considered improper, the Proper Officer shall consult with the chairman of the forthcoming meeting or, as the case may be, the councillors who have convened the meeting, to consider whether the motion shall be included in the agenda or rejected.
9. f. Subject to standing order 9(e) above, the decision of the Proper Officer as to whether or not to include the motion on the agenda shall be final.
9. g. Motions received shall be recorded in a book for that purpose and numbered in the order that they are received.
9. h. Motions rejected shall be recorded in a book for that purpose with an explanation by the Proper Officer for their rejection.
10 Motions at a meeting that do not require written notice
10. a. The following motions may be moved at a meeting without written notice to the Proper Officer;
10. a. i. to correct an inaccuracy in the draft minutes of a meeting;
10. a. ii. to move to a vote;
10. a. iii. to defer consideration of a motion;
10. a. iv. to refer a motion to a particular committee or sub-committee;
10. a. v. to appoint a person to preside at a meeting;
10. a. vi. to change the order of business on the agenda;
10. a. vii. to proceed to the next business on the agenda;
10. a. viii. to require a written report;
10. a. ix. to appoint a committee or sub-committee and their members;
10. a. x. to extend the time limits for speaking;
10. a. xi. to exclude the press and public from a meeting in respect of confidential or sensitive information which is prejudicial to the public interest;
10. a. xii. to not hear further from a councillor or a member of the public;
10. a. xiii. to exclude a councillor or member of the public for disorderly conduct;
10. a. xiv. to temporarily suspend the meeting;
10. a. xv. to suspend a particular standing order (unless it reflects mandatory statutory requirements);
10. a. xvi. to adjourn the meeting; or
10. a. xvii. to close a meeting.
11 Handling confidential or sensitive information
11. a. The agenda, papers that support the agenda and the minutes of a meeting shall not disclose or otherwise undermine confidential or sensitive information which for special reasons would not be in the public interest.
11. b. Councillors and staff shall not disclose confidential or sensitive information which for special reasons would not be in the public interest.
12 Draft minutes
12. a. If the draft minutes of a preceding meeting have been served on councillors with the agenda to attend the meeting at which they are due to be approved for accuracy, they shall be taken as read.
12. b. There shall be no discussion about the draft minutes of a preceding meeting except in relation to their accuracy. A motion to correct an inaccuracy in the draft minutes shall be moved in accordance with standing order 10(a)(i) above.
12. c. The accuracy of draft minutes, including any amendment(s) made to them, shall be confirmed by resolution and shall be signed by the chairman of the meeting and stand as an accurate record of the meeting to which the minutes relate.
12. d. If the chairman of the meeting does not consider the minutes to be an accurate record of the meeting to which they relate, he shall sign the minutes and include a paragraph in the following terms or to the same effect:
“The chairman of this meeting does not believe that the minutes of the meeting of the ( ) held on [date] in respect of ( ) were a correct record but his view was not upheld by the meeting and the minutes are confirmed as an accurate record of the proceedings.”
12. e. Upon a resolution which confirms the accuracy of the minutes of a meeting, the draft minutes or recordings of the meeting for which approved minutes exist shall be destroyed.
13 Code of conduct and dispensations
See also standing order 3(t) above.
13. a. All councillors and non-councillors with voting rights shall observe the code of conduct adopted by the council.
13. b. Unless he has been granted a dispensation, a councillor or non-councillor with voting rights shall withdraw from a meeting when it is considering a matter in which he has a disclosable pecuniary interest. He may return to the meeting after it has considered the matter in which he had the interest.
13. c. Unless he has been granted a dispensation, a councillor or non-councillor with voting rights shall withdraw from a meeting when it is considering a matter in which he has another interest if so required by the council’s code of conduct. He may return to the meeting after it has considered the matter in which he had the interest.
13. d. Dispensation requests shall be in writing and submitted to the Proper Officer as soon as possible before the meeting, or failing that, at the start of the meeting for which the dispensation is required.
13. e. A decision by the Proper Officer to grant a dispensation should only be after consultation with the Chair or Vice Chair but if it is of a contentious nature the decision should be given by the Monitoring Officer WLDC.
13. f. A decision as to whether to grant a dispensation shall be made by a meeting of the council, or committee or sub-committee for which the dispensation is required and that decision is final.
13. g. A dispensation request shall confirm:
13. g. i. the description and the nature of the disclosable pecuniary interest or other interest to which the request for the dispensation relates;
13. g. ii. whether the dispensation is required to participate at a meeting in a discussion only or a discussion and a vote;
13. g. iii. the date of the meeting or the period (not exceeding four years) for which the dispensation is sought; and
13. g. iv. an explanation as to why the dispensation is sought.
13. h. Subject to standing orders 13(d) and (f) above, dispensations requests shall be considered, at the start of the meeting for which the dispensation is required
13. h. i. A dispensation may be granted in accordance with standing order 13(e) above if having regard to all relevant circumstances the following applies:
13. h. i. without the dispensation the number of persons prohibited from participating in the particular business would be so great a proportion of the meeting transacting the business as to impede the transaction of the business or
13. h. ii. granting the dispensation is in the interests of persons living in the council’s area or
13. h. iii. it is otherwise appropriate to grant a dispensation.
14 Code of conduct complaints
14. a. Upon notification by the District of County Council that it is dealing with a complaint that a councillor or non-councillor with voting rights has breached the council’s code of conduct, the Proper Officer shall, subject to standing order 11 above, report this to the council.
14. b. Where the notification in standing order 14(a) above relates to a complaint made by the Proper Officer, the Proper Officer shall notify the Chairman of Council of this fact, and the Chairman shall nominate another staff member to assume the duties of the Proper Officer in relation to the complaint until it has been determined [(England) and the council has agreed what action, if any, to take in accordance with standing order 14(d) below].
14. c. The council may:
14. c. i. provide information or evidence where such disclosure is necessary to progress an investigation of the complaint or is required by law;
14. c. ii. seek information relevant to the complaint from the person or body with statutory responsibility for investigation of the matter;
14. d. Upon notification by the District or Unitary Council that a councillor or non-councillor with voting rights has breached the council’s code of conduct, the council shall consider what, if any, action to take against him. Such action excludes disqualification or suspension from office.
15 Proper Officer
15. a. The Proper Officer shall be either (i) the clerk or (ii) other staff member(s) nominated by the council to undertake the work of the Proper Officer when the Proper Officer is absent.
15. b. The Proper Officer shall:
15. b. i. At least three clear days before a meeting of the council, a committee and a sub-committee serve on councillors a summons, by personal delivery, post or email, confirming the time, place and the agenda provided any such email contains the electronic signature and title of the Proper Officer.
See standing order 3(b) above for the meaning of clear days for a meeting of a full council and standing order 3 (c) above for a meeting of a committee.
15. b. ii. give public notice of the time, place and agenda at least three clear days before a meeting of the council or a meeting of a committee or a sub-committee (provided that the public notice with agenda of an extraordinary meeting of the council convened by councillors is signed by them);
See standing order 3(b) above for the meaning of clear days for a meeting of a full council and standing order 3(c) above for a meeting of a committee.
15. b. iii. subject to standing order 9 above, include on the agenda all motions in the order received unless a councillor who has made the motion has given written notice at least 3 days before the meeting confirming his withdrawal of it;
15. b. iv. convene a meeting of full council for the election of a new Chairman of the Council, occasioned by a casual vacancy in his office;
15. b. v. facilitate inspection of the minute book by local government electors;
15. b. vi. receive and retain copies of byelaws made by other local authorities;
15. b. vii. retain acceptance of office forms from councillors;
15. b. viii. retain a copy of every councillor’s register of interests;
15. b. ix. assist with responding to requests made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and Data Protection Act 1998, in accordance with and subject to the council’s policies and procedures relating to the same;
15. b. x. receive and send general correspondence and notices on behalf of the council except where there is a resolution to the contrary;
15. b. xi. manage the organisation, storage of, access to and destruction of information held by the council in paper and electronic form;
15. b. xii. arrange for legal deeds to be executed;
See also standing order 22 below.
15. b. xiii. arrange or manage the prompt authorisation, approval, and instruction regarding any payments to be made by the council in accordance with the council’s financial regulations;
15. b. xiv. record every planning application notified to the council and the council’s response to the local planning authority in the Councils minutes.
15. b. xv. refer a planning application received by the council to the Chairman, or in his absence the Vice-Chairman of the Council, within two working days of receipt to facilitate an extraordinary meeting if the nature of a planning application requires consideration before the next ordinary meeting of the council
15. b. xvi. manage access to information about the council via the publication scheme.
15. b. xvii. Authorise emergency repairs and to raise cheques in conjunction with the Chair or Vice Chair. These to be itemised as ‘retrospective payments’ and presented with the invoice/authorisation.
16 Responsible Financial Officer
16. a. The council shall appoint appropriate staff member(s) to undertake the work of the Responsible Financial Officer when the Responsible Financial Officer is absent.
17 Accounts and accounting statements
17. a. “Proper practices” in standing orders refer to the most recent version of Governance and Accountability for Local Councils – a Practitioners’ Guide .
17. b. All payments by the council shall be authorised, approved and paid in accordance with the law, proper practices and the council’s financial regulations.
17. c. The Responsible Financial Officer shall supply to each councillor as soon as practicable after 30 September and 31 march in each year a statement to summarise:
17. c. i. the council’s receipts and payments for each quarter;
17. c. ii. the council’s aggregate receipts and payments for the year to date;
17. c. iii. the balances held at the end of the quarter being reported and which includes a comparison with the budget for the financial year and highlights any actual or potential overspends.
17. d. The year end accounting statements shall be prepared in accordance with proper practices and applying the form of accounts determined by the council (receipts and payments, or income and expenditure) for a year to 31 March. A completed draft annual return shall be presented to each councillor before the end of the following month of May. The annual return of the council, which is subject to external audit, including the annual governance statement, shall be presented to council for consideration and formal approval before 30 June.
18 Financial controls and procurement
18. a. The council shall consider and approve financial regulations drawn up by the Responsible Financial Officer, which shall include detailed arrangements in respect of the following:
18. a. i. the keeping of accounting records and systems of internal controls;
18. a. ii. the assessment and management of financial risks faced by the council;
18. a. iii. the work of the independent internal auditor in accordance with proper practices and the receipt of regular reports from the internal auditor, which shall be required at least annually;
18. a. iv. the inspection and copying by councillors and local electors of the council’s accounts and/or orders of payments; and
18. a. v. procurement policies (subject to standing order 18(c) below) including the setting of values for different procedures where a contract has an estimated value of less than £500.00.
18. b. Financial regulations shall be reviewed regularly and at least annually for fitness of purpose.
18. c. Financial regulations shall confirm that a proposed contract for the supply of goods, materials, services and the execution of works with an estimated value in excess of £500.00 shall be procured on the basis of a formal tender as summarised in standing order 18(d) below.
18. d. Subject to additional requirements in the financial regulations of the council, the tender process for contracts for the supply of goods, materials, services or the execution of works shall include, as a minimum, the following steps:
18. d. i. a specification for the goods, materials, services or the execution of works shall be drawn up;
18. d. ii. At least two quotations will be requested using the Council’s specification .
18. d. iii. Quotations are to be submitted in writing to the Proper Officer;
18. d. iv. Quotations are to be reported to and considered by the appropriate meeting of the council.
18. e. The council is not bound to accept the lowest value quotation.
18. f. Where the value of a contract is likely to exceed £138,893 (or other threshold specified by the Office of Government Commerce from time to time) the council must consider whether the Public Contracts Regulations 2006 (SI No. 5, as amended) and the Utilities Contracts Regulations 2006 (SI No. 6, as amended) apply to the contract and, if either of those Regulations apply, the council must comply with EU procurement rules.
19 Handling staff matters
19. a. A matter personal to a member of staff that is being considered by a meeting of council.
19. b. Subject to the council’s policy regarding absences from work, the council’s most senior member of staff shall notify the chairman of the Council or, if he is not available, the vice-chairman of the Council at its next meeting.
19. c. The chairman of the Parish Council or in his absence the vice-chairman shall upon a resolution conduct a review of the performance and annual appraisal of the work of the Parish Clerk and RFO. The reviews and appraisal shall be reported in writing and is subject to approval by resolution by the Council.
19. d. Subject to the council’s policy regarding the handling of grievance matters, the council’s Proper Officer shall contact the chairman of the Council or in his absence, the vice-chairman of the Council in respect of an informal or formal grievance matter, and this matter shall be reported back and progressed by resolution of the Council.
19. e. Subject to the council’s policy regarding the handling of grievance matters, if an informal or formal grievance matter raised by Clerk or RFO relates to the chairman or vice-chairman of the Council this shall be communicated to another member of the Council which shall be reported back and progressed by resolution of the Council.
19. f. Any persons responsible for all or part of the management of staff shall treat the written records of all meetings relating to their performance, capabilities, grievance or disciplinary matters as confidential and secure.
19. g. The council shall keep all written records relating to employees secure. All paper records shall be secured and locked and electronic records shall be password protected and encrypted.
20 Requests for information
a. Requests for information held by the council shall be handled in accordance with the council’s policy in respect of handling requests under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the Data Protection Act 1998.
b. Correspondence from, and notices served by, the Information Commissioner shall be referred by the Proper Officer to the chairman of the Council. The said committee shall have the power to do anything to facilitate compliance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
21 Relations with the press/media
a. Requests from the press or other media for an oral or written comment or statement from the Council, its councillors or staff shall be handled in accordance with the Council’s policy in respect of dealing with the press and/or other media.
22 Execution and sealing of legal deeds
See also standing orders 15(b)(xii) and (xvii) above.
a. A legal deed shall not be executed on behalf of the council unless authorised by a resolution.
The above is applicable to a council without a common seal.
23 Communicating with District and County or Unitary councillors
23. a. An invitation to attend a meeting of the council shall be sent, together with the agenda, to the ward councillor(s) of the District and County Council.
24 Restrictions on councillor activities
24. a. Unless authorised by a resolution, no councillor shall:
24. a. i. inspect any land and/or premises which the council has a right or duty to inspect; or
24. a. ii. issue orders, instructions or directions.
25 Standing orders generally
25. a. All or part of a standing order, except one that incorporates mandatory statutory requirements, may be suspended by resolution in relation to the consideration of an item on the agenda for a meeting.
25. b. A motion to add to or vary or revoke one or more of the council’s standing orders, except one that incorporates mandatory statutory requirements, shall be proposed by a special motion, the written notice by at least 5 councillors to be given to the Proper Officer in accordance with standing order 9 above.
25. c. The Proper Officer shall provide a copy of the council’s standing orders to a councillor as soon as possible after he has delivered his acceptance of office form.
25. d. The decision of the chairman of a meeting as to the application of standing orders at the meeting shall be final.
© NALC 2020. All rights are reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or used for commercial purposes without the written permission of NALC save that councils in membership of NALC have permission to edit and use the model standing orders in this publication for their governance purposes.
The Model Standing Orders 2018 for England were revised in 2020.