- Employer: Brighton & Hove City Council
- Reference: orbis/TP/1664/29382
- Published: Fri 02/12/2022, 0:00 AM
- Closing on: Wed 04/01/2023, 0:00 AM
- Working Pattern: Full Time
- Hours: 5 meetings per annum and ad hoc hearings
- Salary: An annual allowance of £1,058 plus reasonable expenses and £200 per standards panel chaired
- DBS Check: No
- Location: Hybrid Working
Vacancy Location
More Information
Independent Person on Audit & Standards Committee
Job introduction
APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT PERSON
Do you have a keen interest in contributing to the Council’s effectiveness? Are you able to be objective when considering whether high standards of behaviour have been observed? Can you assess complex information and maintain strict confidentiality?
We are looking to recruit two new ‘Independent Persons’ to help us promote high standards of conduct and to oversee the Council’s financial governance, risk management and audit functions. Independent Persons are appointed under the Localism Act 2011 and are required to act objectively and impartially, maintaining confidentiality at all times. Applicants will have a strong public service ethos and will have an important role as critical friends in their capacity as non-voting members of the Audit and Standards Committee.
About the role
Our Independent Persons are consulted when allegations are made against councillors. When a complaint is referred to a cross party Panel of councillors for determination following a formal investigation, one of the Council’s Independent Persons will chair the panel that makes the final decision.
We are looking for people with some or all of the following:
- a keen interest in contributing to the effective running of the Council
- an enthusiasm for maintaining high standards in public life
- ability to process and deal with complex and potentially politically sensitive context
- experience in financial governance
- an understanding of the diverse communities the council serves
- ability to communicate in a way that ensures accessibility and inclusion
Brighton & Hove City Council has made a pledge to be an anti-racist council. The work to be a truly fair and inclusive workplace is ongoing, and we encourage applicants from all backgrounds and experiences.
You will receive an annual allowance of £1,058.00 plus reasonable expenses for this role, as well as £200 per Panel chaired. The law prevents the Council from appointing as an Independent Person any councillor member, co-opted member or officer of Brighton & Hove City Council or of Rottingdean Parish Council. The same restriction applies to potential applicants who may be a relative or close friend of someone who holds any of those posts.
Application is by curriculum vitae and covering letter. Your covering letter should highlight your experience and interest in either audit work, standards or both areas. The closing date is 4th January 2023 and you will be asked to submit a declaration (see end of this pack) along with your application. Interviews will be scheduled on Monday 16th, Tuesday 17th and Tuesday 24th January 2023 and will take place via MicroSoft Teams.
Additional information
Remote working with occasional attendance in the office.
It should be noted that this role requires enhanced employee vetting and that all candidates that progress beyond the initial application stages will be subject to a search of their public profile. Should you be successful in the recruitment process, you will be asked to sign consent for further verification checks to be conducted and that a refusal to sign this consent form will be treated as a withdrawal of your application.
The checks would be conducted by a qualified Investigator within the Counter Fraud Partnership Team in Internal Audit & Counter Fraud. Should any disclosable content be discovered, you would be given a right to respond and comment on the findings.
Company information
Encouraging a diverse workforce
Our city is known and loved for its diversity. Not only is the mixture of people, culture and skills vital to the economic and social development of the city, it's what makes Brighton & Hove such a great place to live, work and visit. We are committed to developing and retaining a workforce that is representative of the diverse communities we serve so we welcome applications from individuals from all backgrounds. In order to achieve our aims of proportionate representation, we particularly encourage applicants from a BME or White Other background as well as those who identify as disabled, male or trans.
Find out more about our commitment to being a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone can achieve their potential by reading about our fair and inclusive actions, our anti-racism strategy and the work we are doing to encourage a diverse workforce (brighton-hove.gov.uk).