In eager anticipation of the final days of the Standards for England regime Central Bedfordshire has through its General Purposes Committee recommended a new, light touch Code of Conduct based on the Nolan principles of conduct in public life.But, Local Government still does not have any guidance as to what a pecuniary interest actually is. We await guidance notes from DCLG and if our Secretary of State is true to his word, these will also be light touch and based on common sense.Eric tells us that he is only interested in 'punishing' Members who are really naughty - diverting a new scheme across their land for example, not the sort of petty political point-scoring that has taken up so much time and expense since the Standards for England regime was introduced by the last government.I have my retirement cards purchased & ready for our local standards committee, who individually are decent people, but collectively have overseen a pernicious assault of democracy.One of the worst examples I have seen is where a colleague from a neighbouring authority was reported to the Standards Board for some perceived naughtiness, it was referred to Standards for England & due process found him innocent - he unfortunately mentioned the case to a local reporter who published the details. Said Cllr was suspended, removed from an LGA office & lost the leadership of his authority.This one case demonstrated for me the wholly unfair & frankly stupid system of top down meddling in minor matters in local government.I have a modicum of interest in this matter, having suffered repeated standards complaints by political opponents - not one of which was upheld.As our wartime leader once said - "he who has said or done nothing has no enemies"Come 30th June Standards Boards, Committee's, Sub-Committee's, hearings, referrals & the whole Standards for England regime is consigned to the dustbin of history.
