COULD you be the person to keep misbehaving city councillors in their place?

The council's standards committee is seeking three independent members to join seven councillors and one parish councillor in deciding the fate of councillors.

One of the independent members is to be the chairman of the committee, which will be responsible for upholding the council's code of conduct.

Applications are being sought from any person who is not a councillor or council employee, is not a close friend or relation of any councillor or employee and has not, during the past five years, been a councillor or employee.

The council's independent remuneration committee will consider the applications and the council will approve their nominations.

The committee is expected to meet at least six times a year and appropriate training will be provided.

The appointments will be until May 2003 initially and expenses will be payable in accordance with the council's allowances scheme.

A special chairman's responsibility allowance, as yet undetermined, will also be payable.

The council's monitoring officer, Roger Muckle, said: "The standards committee will have a crucial role to play in terms of both promoting and maintaining high standards of conduct by members of the council.

"It will be advising the council on its code of conduct and considering reports referred to it by the council's monitoring officer or the National Standards Board.

"It is therefore an opportunity for members of the public who believe they have the skills required to play their part in governing the standards of our elected members."

For more details of the kind of person the council is looking for, the committee's terms of reference and additional background information, contact; Personnel Services, Town Hall, Lancaster LA1 1PJ, or call 01524 582176 for a 24-hour service.

Application forms must be submitted by the council's personnel service by 5.15pm on Friday 2 November 2001.