London Assembly members have called for the Standards Board for England to be scrapped. Assembly chairman, Brian Coleman, called for the abolition of the board, and described it as a ‘failed institution' which was often drawn into ‘frivolous or vexatious complaints'. During consideration of the Government's consultation on proposed changes to the Code of Conduct for council members, the assembly passed a motion which called for ‘alternative mechanisms which ensure that members of all public bodies are accountable and can perform their duties without unnecessary impediment, in a way that is expected by those they represent'. Sir Anthony Holland, chair of the Standards Board said a national independent body was needed to deal with ‘complicated cases' or those that raise ‘special issues'. ‘Both an all-party parliamentary committee and Alistair Graham's independent committee on Standards in Public Life have scrutinised and fully supported the Standards Board and its work,' he added. Last year, the board came in for substantial criticism following a lengthy investigation into Islington LBC. The case lasted over three years and cost more than £1m (The MJ, 12 January 2006).
