Apply to become an Independent Person | Manchester City Council

An Independent Person provides an independent view when complaints are made about councillors and certain co-opted members.

What you'll do

You will:

advise before decisions are made on conduct complaints
provide views on complaint investigations
be available to councillors who are the subject of complaints
support the development of high standards of conduct
contribute to hearings when required
advise on certain senior officer dismissal processes.

Allowance

You'll receive:

an annual allowance of £2,172
£135 for each hearing attended.

What we're looking for

We're looking for someone who has:

an interest in local government and local communities
good judgement
strong communication skills
good analytical skills
integrity and impartiality
an understanding of confidentiality
the ability to work with others.

You do not need formal qualifications. The role will include training and support.

Time commitment

You will be appointed for four years.

The amount of work varies depending on the number of complaints received. Cases are shared between the Independent Persons on a rota basis.

You may occasionally be asked to attend Standards Committee meetings.

Who can apply

You must not:

be a councillor, co-opted member or officer of Manchester City Council
be a councillor, co-opted member or officer of Ringway Parish Council
have held any of these roles during the last five years
have an unspent criminal conviction
be a close friend or relative of someone in these roles.

a) A spouse or civil partner of the person.

b) Someone living with the person as if they were husband and wife or as if they were civil partners.

c) Grandparents of the person.

d) A lineal descendant of a grandparent of the person.

e) A parent, sibling or child of the persons listed in a) or b).

f) The spouse or civil partner of the persons listed in c), d) or e).

g) Someone living with a person listed in c), d) or e) as husband and wife or as if they were civil partners.

You must be able to act independently and remain politically impartial.

You can still apply if you are a member of a political party. However, if you are actively involved in party politics, your application will not be considered. This includes campaigning, canvassing or holding a party position.

Find out more about the Standards Committee before you apply

Visit our Standards Committee page.

How to apply

Email fiona.ledden@manchester.gov.uk with:

your CV
a covering letter explaining how you meet the requirements of the role
confirmation that you meet the eligibility requirements.

Applications close at 4pm on 23 October 2026. Interviews are expected to take place during the week beginning 9 November 2026.

For an informal discussion about the role, call Fiona Ledden on 0161 227 3974.

We will use the information you provide to process your application. Read our corporate privacy notice to find out how we collect, use and store your personal information.