The Standards Committee of Newham Council met on Wednesday 4th February 2026 to discuss a proposed Member Induction and Development Programme for 2026/27. The committee was scheduled to review the draft programme, which aims to enhance governance, participation, and continuous development for elected members.

Review of Draft Member Induction and Member Development Programme, 2026/27

The committee was scheduled to consider a comprehensive report detailing a proposed Member Induction Programme for newly elected members from May 2026 and a Member Development Programme to run throughout the municipal year. This programme is a response to recommendations from the Local Government Association (LGA) in 2024, following a review of Newham Council's existing offer. The report highlighted that the 2022 induction programme was considered unsatisfactory by members, leading to a lack of preparedness and understanding of council structures and processes.

The proposed programme aims to address issues of poor attendance and engagement by supplementing scheduled training with an online Members' portal, pre-recorded seminars, and optional personal development sessions. It also seeks to address governance and cultural issues previously identified by the LGA and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) in a Non-Statutory Best Value Notice issued in 2025. A key objective is to embed and develop a performance management system led by elected members, aligning with the LGA's guidance on fulfilling the Best Value Duty for economy, efficiency, and effectiveness.

The report outlined that an extensive consultation process had informed the drafting of the programme, including input from members individually and through the Member Development Working Group. Consultation also extended to other London boroughs with a similar directly elected Mayor and Cabinet model, such as Croydon, Hackney, and Tower Hamlets, to draw on their experiences and best practices. The Newham Transformation and Improvement Board (NTIB) was also consulted, with updates provided at their meetings and informal discussions held with LGA representatives.

Feedback from members indicated a desire for a skills audit to tailor training into beginner and advanced groups, moving away from a one-size-fits-all approach. Suggested topics for induction included essential onboarding, the Code of Conduct, Council Procedure Rules, decision-making processes, interacting with residents, casework systems, understanding council finances, and introductory meetings with the Corporate Leadership Team (CLT) and Senior Leadership Team (SLT).

The draft induction programme includes a detailed schedule of activities from May 2026 to April 2027. Key elements include mandatory sessions on safeguarding, data protection, cyber security, council finances, working with residents, and corporate parenting. Specific statutory training will be provided for members of committees such as Planning, Licensing, Audit, and Pensions. The programme also proposes training for Cabinet Members, drawing on the LGA's expertise, and specialised support for scrutiny members from the Centre for Governance and Scrutiny (CfGS).

A significant component of the proposed programme is the Members' Information Portal, an e-learning platform accessible only to councillors. This portal will host a variety of resources, including LGA materials, internal fact sheets, slide decks, and pre-recorded sessions, allowing members to learn at their own pace. A Members' Portal Agent is also being developed to provide 24/7 support for frequently asked questions.

The report recommended that the Standards Committee note and comment on the contents of the report, and provide consultation on all aspects of the programme, including the content of sessions and driving attendance. The committee was also asked to provide consultation for further consideration at the meeting on 11th March 2026.

The financial implications of the proposed programme were also noted, with a recommendation for a significant increase to the current annual budget of £7,000 to support the development of training, professional recording of sessions, and voluntary professional development opportunities for councillors.

The report included appendices detailing the draft Member Induction Programme, the Members' Information Portal, and comparator schedules from Croydon, Hackney, and Tower Hamlets councils, outlining their respective induction and development programmes.