The Standards Sub-Committee considers complaints made about elected and co-opted councillors from South Gloucestershire Council and all parish and town councils within the district. It assesses these complaints to decide if further investigation is needed, consulting with an Independent Person as required by the Localism Act 2011. The committee can instruct the Monitoring Officer to investigate and will then consider investigation reports to determine any appropriate penalties. It also handles applications for dispensations under the Localism Act 2011.