THERE are fears that councillors could be left open to accusations of bias with changes being brought about under the Government’s Localism Act.

The legislation means that council standards committees – responsible for ensuring honesty and integrity – will no longer have an independent chairman.

Instead, complaints about district and parish councillors will be overseen by an elected member of the district council, sparking concerns that future chairmen will be accused of taking sides.

Christine Davenport, the current independent chairman of Worcester City Council’s standards committee, has written to communities minister Eric Pickles to voice her fears.

“I really do strongly disagree because from the public perspective the standards committee needs to be seen to be open and above board and seen to be unbiased.

“It’s a very sad day that they’re going to do away with the independent chairman. I have been chairman for eight years and I’ve enjoyed every moment. I’ve enjoyed working with the council and I’m very proud of upholding standards.”

Under the reforms, a person who is not a councillor, but who is co-opted onto a committee, can be on the standards committee, but does not have a voting right and hence cannot be chairman.

But Mrs Davenport said: “That to me is very strange because I think the whole point of being an independent chairman is that you don’t have a vote. You chair the meeting openly and honestly and with integrity and then put the decisions to the committee to vote.”

Her fears have been echoed by members of Warndon Parish Council who believe it could leave future chairmen in a difficult position.

Former parish council chairman Ray Morris said: “It’s potentially open to all sorts of accusations. The elected chairman is probably going to have a political allegience. That, to me, is stoking the fire.”

Parish councillors were also frustrated that only district councillors are allowed to vote on the committee and Worcester City Council’s monitoring officer, Carol Brown, has written to Mr Pickles on behalf of the standards committee expressing regret at the loss of an independent chairman.

The Government has axed the previous Standards Board system as part of an overhaul under the new Localism Act. Ministers believed it had become a vehicle for petty complaints about councillors.

Local Government Minister Bob Neill said: “Councils and communities can look forward to a new era of locally set codes of conduct that will prevent corruption, ensure high standards in public life and put an end to petty, partisan and malicious complaints that have dragged down the reputation of local government.

“Instead of having hundreds of expensive and frivolous investigations hanging over their heads, local councillors will be free to get on with the job of getting the best for their local area.”