Independent Person (Standards)
Role Responsibility
The remuneration for this post is a £500 annual retainer (payable over 12 months) plus a daily rate of £100 (pro rata for part of a day) when required to undertake any duties, and travel expenses at the same rate as for elected Members (currently 45p per mile). This may be reviewed by the Member Remuneration Panel as part of their current review of the Members' Allowances Scheme.
The Localism Act 2011 requires that the County Council appoint an Independent Person from whom the Monitoring Officer can seek advice when they are in receipt of an alleged breach of the Kent Member Code of Conduct.
The legislation came into operation on 1 July 2012 just a few days after it was published. Therefore, the County Council approved at its meeting in October 2012 the appointment of Mr Michael George retrospectively for a four-year term expiring 30 June 2016. Mr George has subsequently been reappointed, most recently on 18 July 2024. His current term ends on 30 June 2027.
As set out in the report to County Council recommending the reappointment of Mr George, the intention is to recruit a second Independent Person and appoint them to a 4-year term. A second Independent Person will provide resilience to the ethical framework of the Council and, with a term end date after that of Mr George, ensure that the Council is not left without an Independent Person.
To provide additional resilience, appointing two Independent Persons as part of the proposed recruitment exercise can be considered.
Job Title: Independent Person (Standards)
Organisation: Kent County Council (KCC) / Kent and Medway Fire and Rescue Authority (KMFRA)
Directorate: Legal Services
Unit/Section: Governance Team
Location: Maidstone
Remuneration: £500 per annum plus £100 per day (plus travel expenses)
Responsible to: Kent County Council & Kent and Medway Fire and Rescue Authority
Kent County Council and Kent and Medway Fire and Rescue Authority are seeking to appoint an Independent Person to help uphold the highest standards of conduct among elected and co-opted Members. This statutory role, established under the Localism Act 2011, is vital in ensuring transparency, fairness, and integrity in public service.
About the Role
As an Independent Person, you will:
* Provide advice to the Monitoring Officer on allegations of breaches of the Kent Member Code of Conduct.
* Be available for consultation by Members who are the subject of complaints.
* Support the Council's commitment to transparency, accountability, and ethical governance.
This role also supports a reciprocal arrangement with the Kent and Medway Fire and Rescue Authority, which shares the same Code of Conduct.
Person Specification
We are looking for individuals who:
* Demonstrate integrity, sound judgement, and impartiality.
* Have a keen interest in public service and local government standards.
* Are not politically active or closely connected to Kent County Council or its Members.
* Can commit to occasional duties throughout the year, with flexibility.
Remuneration
* £500 annual retainer (paid monthly)
* £100 daily rate (pro rata for partial days)
* Travel expenses reimbursed at 45p per mile
Appointment Process
Interviews will be held in the week commencing 1 December 2025. The successful applicants will then be recommended to County Council for appointment. Appointment will only be confirmed upon the agreement of County Council and subject to the appropriate pre-employment checks.
This post is subject to a Basic Disclosure Application to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
This post is considered by KCC to be a customer-facing position. The Council therefore has a statutory duty under Part 7 of the Immigration Act to ensure that post holders have a command of spoken English/Welsh sufficient for the effective performance of the job requirements. The appropriate standards are set out in the Job Description/Person Specification.
Please note that online applications are not required, if you are interested please send your CV and a cover letter to or
Contact Details
For Further information on this role, please contact:
Tristan Godfrey, Senior Governance Manager Katy Reynolds, Governance Advisor
About the Company
Work that works for you and us - let's talk flexibility
KCC is committed to building a workforce which reflects the diversity of the county's working residents, encouraging applications from people of all ages, abilities, genders, sexual orientations, ethnic backgrounds, faiths and those with caring responsibilities, and aspires to create an inclusive workplace where everyone can be themselves at work.
Please note - if you are interested, please apply soon as possible as the closing date for this advert may be earlier than stated should a number of suitably qualified candidates apply.