GATESHEAD Borough Council is looking for a member of the community to help maintain the high standards of the borough's councillors.

In 1999, Gateshead council established a standards committee to ensure that residents have confidence in the way the authority works, and in the 66 councillors who represent people across the borough.

The independently chaired committee is responsible for seeing that a high standard of conduct is maintained throughout the council's activities, and for advising councillors on standards issues.

The committee is chaired by Richard Bell, formerly the director of regeneration in the Government Office of the North-East, until his retirement in 1995.

The new member will need to be able to absorb and analyse complex information, having an independence of judgement, be able to listen to other people's points of view and have the ability to work as part of a team.

For more information, contact Graeme Hunter on 0191-433 2027 or Jonathan Rew on 0191-433 2120