The Standards Committee of Lewisham Council met on 19 November 2025 to discuss updates to the handling of standards and conduct, and to appoint members to sub-committees. The committee was also scheduled to note the minutes of the previous meeting, and to consider a report on complaints made under the Members' Code of Conduct. Councillors were asked to declare any personal interests they had in the agenda items.

Complaints under the Members' Code of Conduct

The committee was scheduled to consider a report from Jeremy Chambers, Director of Law & Corporate Governance Monitoring Officer, regarding complaints made under the Members' Code of Conduct¹. The report, titled Complaints Update, noted that the Standards Committee was set up to promote high standards of conduct by the Mayor and all members of the council.

The report provided updates on recent conduct matters considered by the Monitoring Officer:

• April 2025: A formal complaint was made by one councillor against another, alleging breaches of the code relating to equality, respect, and high standards of conduct. An initial assessment led to a formal investigation, with Kirsty Cole of Bevan Brittan LLP appointed as Investigating Officer. The complaint alleged that the member breached the following paragraphs of the Code in force at the time:

8) Members should promote equality and not discriminate unlawfully against any person and treat all people with respect. Whilst it is acknowledged that political debate may at times be robust and forthright, and that the right of freedom of expression is essential to vibrant political discourse, members should ensure that their comments and behaviour do not overstep the line of acceptability.

9) Members should promote and support high standards of conduct in particular as characterised by the above requirements by leadership and example.

• May 2025: A complaint was received from a member of the public against two councillors, alleging bias and conferring an advantage/benefit on another, which brought the council into disrepute. An initial assessment determined that elements of the complaint should proceed to a formal investigation, and an external Investigating Officer was to be appointed.
• October 2025: Email correspondence was received from a member of the public regarding the conduct of two councillors. The Monitoring Officer provided guidance and was in the process of carrying out an initial assessment.

The committee had previously requested an analysis of complaints, including any trends. However, due to the low number of complaints received, this was not possible. The report noted that ad hoc advice given by the Monitoring Officer, including legal, procedural, and constitutional advice, as well as informal advice on councillor conduct, was not included in the details provided.

Appointments to Standards Sub-Committees

The committee was scheduled to consider a report regarding appointments to sub-committees. The report sought approval to appoint members to Sub-Committees A and B, which would consider complaints and appeals under the Members' Code of Conduct.

The report recommended that each sub-committee be composed of five councillor members and three co-opted members, with no overlapping membership between the two committees. It was also noted that any member who substitutes on a sub-committee considering a complaint would not be eligible to sit on the sub-committee that hears the appeal for the same case.

The report, titled Appointments to Sub-Committees, stated that the council is committed to upholding the principles of natural justice² and ensuring that its standards processes are fair, impartial, and transparent. The purpose of establishing two distinct sub-committees was to manage hearings and appeals related to complaints under the Members' Code of Conduct. This arrangement was described as a procedural safeguard to ensure fairness and prevent conflicts of interest. The report stated that the practice reflects the legal principle of natural justice, which includes the separation of functions and the exclusion of previous members from appeal hearings.

Strengthening the Standards and Conduct Framework

The committee was scheduled to receive a verbal update from the council's Deputy Monitoring Officer on strengthening the standards and conduct framework for local authorities in England.

Code of Conduct Induction Training

The committee was scheduled to receive a verbal update from the council's Monitoring Officer on Code of Conduct Induction Training for new councillors, scheduled for May 2026.

Declarations of Interest

Councillors were asked to declare any personal interests they had in any item on the agenda, including disclosable pecuniary interests, other registerable interests, and non-registerable interests, as outlined in the council's Member Code of Conduct.