COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL
GOVERNMENT News Release (109) issued by The Government News Network
on 13 May 2008
Dr Robert Chilton
has been appointed as the new Chair of the Standards Board for
England by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.
Dr Chilton will lead the board, which is responsible for the
promotion and maintenance of high standards of conduct for members
of local authorities in England from 1 July 2008, for a three year
term. He takes over from Sir Anthony Holland, who has led the
Board for seven years.
The Standards Board's main task now, with the new, more
locally based conduct regime in place, is that of a light touch
regulator, providing support, advice and guidance to assist local
authorities in their treatment of allegations of misconduct by councillors.
Minister for Local Government, John Healey, said:
"I am very pleased to appoint Dr Chilton as Chair of the
Standards Board. I am confident that he has not only the
strategic vision to lead the Board in its new role as a light
touch regulator, but also a deep understanding and experience of
local government, which will be invaluable in ensuring the Board
continues its key work of promoting the highest standards of
conduct across local government.
"I would also like to put on record our very great
appreciation and thanks to Sir Anthony for all he has done during
his time as the Board's Chair. It is through his leadership
both that the role of the Board has developed over the years and
that the importance of high standards of conduct is recognised
throughout local government.
"We are very grateful to Sir Anthony and wish him well for
the future."
Notes for Editors
1. Section 57 of the Local Government Act 2000 made provision for
an independent body, the Standards Board for England, to promote
and maintain high standards of conduct for members and co-opted
members of local authorities in England.
2. The Standards Board for England is a non-departmental public
body, funded by the Department for Communities and Local Government.
3. On 8 May a new conduct regime came into force, giving local
standards committees the responsibility for initially assessing
all allegations of misconduct by councillors and, in all but the
most serious cases, dealing with any subsequent investigations,
decisions and sanctions.
4. As a result, the role of the Standards Board for England has
changed. The Standards Board will concentrate on its role as a
light-touch regulator providing advice and guidance for local
authorities. It will also act as a monitoring body, ensuring that
high standards of conduct in local authorities are maintained. The
Standards Board remains the body responsible for the promotion and
maintenance of high standards of conduct for members of local
authorities in England and for handling the most serious cases of misconduct.
5. There are ten members of the Standards Board including the
Chair.
They are currently:
Sir Anthony Holland (Chair) (Term of office expires on 31 June
2008)
Patricia Hughes CBE (Deputy Chair)
Councillor
Shirley Flint
Paul Gott
Elizabeth Hall
Councillor
Mehboob Khan
Professor Judy Simons
Councillor Sir Ron
Watson CBE
Margaret May
One post is currently vacant. It is expected that this will be
filled shortly.
6. Dr Robert Chilton Is a non-executive director of the Waste and
Resources Action programme, a Board member for the Office of the
Information Commissioner, Chair of the major London housing
association the East Thames Group and Deputy chair of ICSTIS (the
premium phone rate regulator)
7. His association with local government stretches back to 1965,
when he worked in regional planning prior to attending Cambridge
University. After University he had a career in local authority
planning, working in Haringey, Lewisham, Brent and Sheffield
before becoming Director of Housing and Property Services for
Kensington and Chelsea in 1979 and in 1986 becoming Chief
Executive of Gillingham Borough Council.
8. In 1989 he was appointed Director of Local Government Studies
at the Audit Commission. From June 1995 to July 1996 he was Chief
Executive of the Local Government Commission, from April 1999 to
May 20000 he was Head of Transition at the Greater London
Authority Transition team, from May 2000 to September 2000 he was
the interim Chief Executive at the Greater London Authority and
from September 2000 to February 2001 he was Interim Commissioner
for Transport at Transport for London.
9. Dr Chilton takes over the Chair from Sir Anthony Holland, who
has served for seven years since the formal establishment of the
Board in 2001.
News Releases: http://www.communities.gov.uk/newsroom