Policies

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Link to downloadable pdf of standing orders

Link to downloadable pdfs of all core policies

Introduction                                                                                                                   

          How to use model standing orders                                                                      

          Drafting notes                                                                                                     

1. Rules of debate at meetings                                                                              
2. Disorderly conduct at meetings                                                                         
3. Meetings generally                                                                                            
4. Committees and sub-committees                                                                      
5. Ordinary council meetings                                                                                 
6. Extraordinary meetings of the council, committees and sub-committees                 
7. Previous resolutions                                                                                          
8. Voting on appointments                                                                                     
9. Motions for a meeting that require written notice to be given to the proper officer    
10. Motions for a meeting that do not require written notice                                       
11. Management of information                                                                               
12. Draft minutes                                                                                                    
13. Code of conduct and dispensations                                                                   
14. Code of conduct complaints                                                                              
15. Proper Officer                                                                                                   
16. Responsible Financial Officer                                                                            
17. Accounts and accounting statements                                                                
18. Financial controls and procurement                                                                   
19. Handling staff matters                                                                                       
20. Responsibilities to provide information                                                               
21. Responsibilities under data protection legislation                                               
22. Relations with the press/ media                                                                         
23. Execution and sealing of legal deeds                                                                 
24. Communicating with District and County or Unitary councillors                                       
25. Restrictions on councillor activities                                                                    
26. Standing orders generally                                                                                  

Introduction

These model standing orders update the National Association of Local Council (NALC) model standing orders contained in “Local Councils Explained” by Meera Tharmarajah (© 2013 NALC). This publication contains new model standing orders which reference new legislation introduced after 2013 when the last model standing orders were published.

How to use model standing orders

Standing orders are the written rules of a local council. Standing orders are essential to regulate the proceedings of a meeting. A council may also use standing orders to confirm or refer to various internal organisational and administrative arrangements. The standing orders of a council are not the same as the policies of a council but standing orders may refer to them.

Local councils operate within a wide statutory framework. NALC model standing orders incorporate and reference many statutory requirements to which councils are subject. It is not possible for the model standing orders to contain or reference all the statutory or legal requirements which apply to local councils. For example, it is not practical for model standing orders to document all obligations under data protection legislation. The statutory requirements to which a council is subject apply whether or not they are incorporated in a council’s standing orders.

The model standing orders do not include model financial regulations. Financial regulations are standing orders to regulate and control the financial affairs and accounting procedures of a local council. The financial regulations, as opposed to the standing orders of a council, include most of the requirements relevant to the council’s Responsible Financial Officer. Model financial regulations are available to councils in membership of NALC.

Drafting notes

Model standing orders that are in bold type contain legal and statutory requirements. It is recommended that councils adopt them without changing them or their meaning. Model standing orders not in bold are designed to help councils operate effectively but they do not contain statutory requirements so they may be adopted as drafted or amended to suit a council’s needs. It is NALC’s view that all model standing orders will generally be suitable for councils.

For convenience, the word “councillor” is used in model standing orders and, unless the context suggests otherwise, includes a non-councillor with or without voting rights.

A model standing order that includes brackets like this ‘(   )’ requires information to be inserted by a council. A model standing order that includes brackets like this ‘[  ]’ and the term ‘OR’ provides alternative options for a council to choose from when determining standing orders.

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