About Us Newham Council currently has five vacancies for Independent Members of the Standards Advisory Committee. This is a statutory Committee which plays a crucial role in maintaining high ethical standards and good conduct of members. Full details of the Terms of Reference of the Standards Advisory Committee are attached. The Standards Advisory Committee - Terms of Reference Independent Members are appointed for a fixed term of four years. The position is voluntary; however, an annual allowance of £565 (or £1356 if subsequently elected Chair) will be paid for time, travel and subsistence. The allowance rate is currently under review. The commitment includes a willingness to attend approximately 4 evening meetings per annum, plus ad hoc sub committees as required. Purpose of the Role To bring an independent perspective to the Standards Advisory Committee, fostering inclusivity, accountability, and innovation to advance the interests of the Committee and its members. Key Responsibilities Ability to act independently, bringing impartiality to discussions. Ability to potentially chair Committee meetings effectively, ensuring productive discussion, clear decision making within the Committees Terms of Reference. Work collaboratively with other Committee Members and Council Officers Act as an independent voice, bringing objectivity and impartiality to Committee discussions and decisions Strong commitment to upholding good governance. Communication and Relationship Building Excellent communication and interpersonal skills Support the Council’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, ensuring these principles are embedded in all activities Sufficient time and flexibility to fulfil the responsibilities of the role, including committee meetings and additional engagements as required. Personal Attributes Integrity, impartiality, and the ability to build trust The ability to deal with confidential and sensitive matters A collaborative and inclusive leadership style Resilience and the ability to manage complex or challenging situations. Respect for others with an understanding and a keen regard for strong ethical values The Committee will receive nominations to elect a Chair and Vice Chair. Therefore, the ability to ensure meetings run effectively and inclusively in line with an agreed agenda would also be desirable. A detailed knowledge of local government is not necessary, although it would be an advantage if potential candidates were interested in matters relating to public life. Whilst we would particularly welcome and prefer applicants to have a local connection to the borough, we would encourage any applicant with a keen interest in local democracy to apply. You cannot become an independent member of Newham’s Standards Advisory Committee if you: have been a member or employee of Newham Council in the last 5 years are a relative or close friend of a member or employee of the Council have a criminal conviction which is not spent Full details of the role and responsibilities of the Independent Member will be available in the Recruitment Pack. For more information, please contact: The Monitoring Officer London Borough of Newham Newham Dockside 1000 Dockside Road London E16 2QU Tel: 020 3373 6584 Website: www.newham.gov.uk Or request a pack from DemocraticServicesnewham.gov.uk The closing date for applications is 14 March 2025.