18 December 2024The government is seeking views on proposals to introduce measures to strengthen the standards and conduct regime for local authorities in England. The proposals being consulted upon include:
- The introduction of a mandatory minimum code of conduct for local authorities in England
- A requirement that all principal authorities convene formal standards committees to make decisions on code of conduct breaches, and publish the outcomes of all formal investigations
- The introduction of the power for all local authorities (including combined authorities) to suspend councillors or mayors found in serious breach of their code of conduct and, as appropriate, interim suspension for the most serious and complex cases that may involve police investigations
- A new category of disqualification for gross misconduct and those subject to a sanction of suspension more than once in a 5-year period
- A role for a national body to deal with appeals
SLCC will be making a response to this consultation by the deadline of 26 February 2025. Any members of SLCC who want to comment or provide information in support of our response should email these to Michael King, Head of Policy & External Communications, [email protected] by 12 February 2025.
Clerks and their councils are encouraged to make their own response to the consultation too.
You can access the consultation here.
