The Standards Committee of Camden Council is scheduled to meet on Monday, 26 January 2026. The meeting's agenda includes discussions on member-officer relationships, induction training for councillors, and updates on standards matters.

Member-Officer Relationships: Bullying and Harassment

A report from the Borough Solicitor will be presented for discussion regarding member-officer relationships, with a particular focus on bullying and harassment. The report examines Camden's governance framework for addressing such behaviours by councillors, comparing it with approaches in neighbouring councils. It concludes that Camden's current framework is robust and highlights the upcoming post-election period as an opportunity to re-engage all councillors with the Code of Conduct and the Member-Officer Protocol. The report notes that fostering positive working relationships between elected Members and officers is considered a cornerstone of effective local government.

Standards Induction Training for Councillors

The committee will consider suggestions for the standards element of the Member induction programme following the May 2026 local elections. This report, also from the Borough Solicitor, outlines the proposed content for new and returning councillors, aiming to ensure they are quickly brought up to speed on standards issues to avoid inadvertent breaches of the Councillor Code of Conduct. The report suggests that the induction programme should include mandatory sessions on the Code of Conduct, registers of interest, gifts and hospitality, declaring interests at meetings, bias and predetermination, the Member-Officer Protocol, and social media guidance. The committee is invited to comment on these proposals and endorse the compulsory nature of the standards-specific training.

Update on Standards Matters

This agenda item will provide members with an update on recent standards-related issues and actions from previous committee meetings. It includes information on the revised Register of Interests form, which aims to enhance openness by explicitly distinguishing between a councillor's interests and those of relevant others. The report also touches upon the requirement for local authorities to disclose details of related party transactions in their accounts, which utilises information from the Register of Members' Interests. Furthermore, the update will cover the launch of the Ethics and Integrity Commission, which replaces the Committee on Standards in Public Life, and government plans to reform the local government standards framework. Several case studies from other councils concerning the registration of interests, breaches of the Code of Conduct, and electoral malpractice allegations will also be presented for information.

Standards Information and Guidance Record

A report will be presented detailing the record of standards information and guidance that has been issued to Members of the Council. This includes updates on constitutional guidance documents such as the Members' Code of Conduct, the Member-Officer Protocol, and social media guidelines. The record also lists other guidance issued via email, such as reminders about registering gifts and hospitality, and the obligation to update registers of interest. The committee is invited to note this record and suggest any areas where guidance might be reviewed or reissued.