It is the later – the councillor will have 30 days to request a review – which should be decided in three months.

On the face it, all seems simple enough. Or is it? The standards committee will need to sort out procedures for dealing with the complaint. Should the councillor be informed? When would it not be appropriate to let the member know the substance of the complaint? Should a formal agenda be issued for the meeting? Should the press and public be entitled to attend the meeting? How will the committee deal with media inquiries? How will the meeting be recorded?

The CLG has issued a consultation document on these and related matters before it releases its orders and regulations, and the Standards Board for England puts forward its  guidance.

Standards committees will have to undertake three separate and distinct roles: