The Democracy and Standards Committee are scheduled to meet to discuss the register of members' interests, the member onboarding programme, and the committee's work programme. Also to be discussed is a government consultation on strengthening the standards and conduct framework for local authorities.

Member Onboarding Programme 2025

The committee will receive an update on the Member Onboarding Programme from May 2025. The aim of the programme is to induct both newly elected and returning councillors in their roles, council services, governance and decision making, and how they can be effective in their roles as community leaders.

The report pack states that the programme will ensure councillors are:

Provided with development opportunities to acquire and further develop the skills needs to fulfil their roles.

Provided with ICT hardware and are provided with support and training, where needed, in maximising the use of ICT devices and developing their technology sills.

Introduced to the Executive Leadership Team, Senior Officer and other relevant officers.

Provided with key information that promote effective Member and Officer relationships.

The programme included a Councillor Welcome Event, a general Councillor Induction, and role specific development sessions on topics such as Overview and Scrutiny, Cabinet roles, Planning, and Licensing.

Register of Members' Interests

The committee will receive an update on 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, councillors must complete a Register of Interest form and send it to the Monitoring Officer for registration. The report pack states that upon election in May 2025, each councillor was provided with a Welcome Pack that contained a Register of Interest form that councillors were asked to complete and return to the Monitoring Officer within 28 days of being elected.

Democracy and Standards Committee - Work Programme 2025 2026

The committee will review and note the Committee Work Programme. The work programme is a fluid document and will be presented to each meeting of the committee for consideration and review. The draft work programme 2025/26 has been produced in accordance with the terms of reference of the committee.

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

The committee will discuss the government's consultation on strengthening the standards and conduct framework for local authorities in England. The consultation sought views on introducing measures that the government feels will both strengthen the standards and conduct regime in England. The consultation ended on 26 February 2025, and this report is therefore for the committee's information.

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.