Councillor conduct
All councillors have signed up and are bound by a Code of Conduct which covers how they should behave in public office. There may be occasions when you believe that a councillor's behaviour falls short of that required of them.
The Monitoring Officer is an employee of the council who provides advice to members on the Code of Conduct and carries out independent investigations about the behaviour of councillors. Reports of the Monitoring Officer are made to the Standards Committee. The Standards Committee has responsibility for dealing with complaints against councillors.
Making a complaint
If you have a complaint or are concerned about the conduct of either a district councillor or a town or parish councillor within the Epping Forest District Council Scheme, you can contact the Local Assessment Officer, Simon Hill to discuss the nature of your complaint in confidence
- By telephone on 01992 564249
- By email to shill@eppingforestdc.gov.uk
The council procedure for dealing with complaints against councillors
The council has adopted the Public Law Partnership Code of Coduct
If you pursue a complaint, use the form below
You must submit it in writing to
- The Monitoring Officer, Standards Committee - Office of the Chief Executive
Epping Forest District Council, Civic Offices, High Street, Epping, Essex CM16 4BZ
The role of the Standards Committee
The Standards Committee was established under the Local Government Act 2000. Since that time the Committee has overseen the standards of elected members. From July 2012 the Committee will be constituted in accordance with the Localism Act 2011. Details of its terms of reference and membership can be found on the Standards Committee section of the Committee Management System. The Committee is appointed annually by the council.
All of our Standards Committee agenda and minutes are available on our website. Our most recent Annual Report is also available below.
Parish and town councils
The Standards Committee operates according to procedures agreed by the council and incorporated into its constitution. Its responsibilities include investigating and ruling on complaints against town and parish councillors of authorities affiliated to the district council scheme as well as members of Epping Forest District Council.
More details about town and parish arrangements can be found by clicking the plus sign below
Town and Parish Councils Standards Arrangements
The Parish Council's for Chigwell, Epping Upland (subject to review in 2013) Matching, Roydon, Sheering and Willingale are affiliated to the Epping Forest District Council's Standards Committee.They have also adopted the same Code of Conduct and Complaints Procedure used by Epping Forest District Council.
The following Parish and Town Councils have adopted the same Code of Conduct and Complaints procedure but have opted to join a Joint Parish and Town Standards Committee which will have the same role as the Epping Forest District Council Committee:
Buckhurst Hill Parish
Epping Town
Lambourne Parish
Loughton Town
Moreton, Bobbingworth and the Lavers Parish
Nazeing Parish
North Weald Bassett Parish
Ongar Town
Stanford Rivers Parish
Stapleford Abbotts Parish
Theyon Bois Parish
Theydon Mount Parish
Waltham Abbey Town.
The following Parish Council's have decided to exercise their discretion in not affiliating to any Standards Committee:
Abbess, Beauchamp and Berners Roding Parish
Fyfield Parish
Stapleford Tawney Parish
Theydon Garnon Parish
They have adopted the same code of conduct and complaints procedure which will operate for this Council and the other Parish and Town Council's. The exception is High Ongar Parish Council which also has not joined any Standards Committee and has adopted its own Code of Conduct and Complaints procedure. These are available below:
Contact the Standards Committee
Standards Committee Secretary, Democratic Services
Address: Democratic Services,
Epping Forest District Council,
Civic Offices,
High Street, Epping, Essex CM16 4BZ
Telephone: 01992 564249
Email: democraticservices@eppingforestdc.gov.uk

