The Democracy and Standards Committee were scheduled to meet to discuss the register of members' interests, the member onboarding programme, and a government consultation on strengthening the standards and conduct framework for local authorities. They were also scheduled to review and note the committee work programme.

Democracy and Standards Committee Work Programme

The committee was scheduled to review and note the Democracy and Standards Committee Work Programme for 2025/2026. According to the draft work programme ¹, the committee plans to discuss proposed amendments to the Constitution, statistics on the code of conduct arrangements, and national changes in respect of ethics and standards. The committee also plans to discuss training specific to the Democracy and Standards Committee Members, and the Member Development Induction Programme.

Member Onboarding Programme 2025

The committee was scheduled to receive a progress update on the Member Onboarding Programme from May 2025. The aim of the Programme was to induct both newly elected and returning Councillors in their roles in council services, governance and decision making and how they can be effective in their roles as community leaders.

The Programme included:

• Councillor Welcome Event
• General Councillor Induction Hitting the Ground Running
• Member Roles and Relationships
• Data Protection
• Equalities

As part of the programme, councillors were to be provided with ICT hardware and support, introduced to the Executive Leadership Team, and provided with key information that promotes effective Member and Officer relationships.

A number of Councillor Development sessions have been held so far and statistics in relation to the sessions from 8 May 2025 to 29 May 2025 are detailed at Appendix A. The statistics includes attendance figures and feedback received from Councillors who attended the sessions.

Register of Members' Interests

The committee was scheduled to receive an update regarding the operation of the Register of Members' Interests 2025/2026. Section 29 of the Localism Act 2011 requires the Monitoring Officer to establish and maintain a register of interests of members of the authority. Within 28 days of becoming a member or their re-election or re-appointment to office they must complete a Register of Interest form and send it to the Monitoring Officer for registration.

Upon election in May 2025 each Councillor was provided with a Welcome Pack that contained a number of documents, one of which was the Register of Interest form that Councillors were asked to complete and return to the Monitoring Officer within 28 days of being elected.

A training session entitled *a Councillor's Guide to West Northamptonshire Council was* held in May 2025 for all Councillors. It was delivered by the Monitoring Officer and the Head of Democratic and Elections. Part of the session included information and guidance around the completion of Register of Interests.

Government Consultation: Strengthening the standards and conduct framework for Local Authorities in England

The committee was scheduled to be appraised of details of the Government's consultation: 'Strengthening the standards and conduct framework for Local Authorities in England' that sought views on introducing measures that the Government feels will both strengthen the standards and conduct regime in England.

The proposals being consulted upon included:

• 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.

The Committee for 2024/2025 set up a Working Group, comprising three Members of the Committee, completed the survey. Individual responses could also be submitted to the consultation and the Committee for 2024/2025 promoted the survey amongst elected Members, encouraging them to partake.