A BOROUGH council is looking for a member of the public to sit on its standards committees.

Local authorities are required to have a standards committee and a standards sub committee. By law, at least a quarter of the members must come from outside the publicly elected councillors.

Harrogate Borough Council has a vacancy following the retirement of Len Pinkney, who has been a member since the standards committee was formed.

Stephen Prosser, the council's monitoring officer, said: "Harrogate Borough Council believes it is right and proper that those elected to public office should have the very highest of standards and, in cases of a breach of those standards, that they should be properly investigated."

The committees are responsible for promoting high standards of conduct among members of the district and parish councils.

The number of meetings varies every year but is generally no more than six.

Anyone interested in taking up the role is asked to contact Mr Prosser on (01423) 556034.