The Standards Committee of Newham Council was scheduled to discuss the proposed Member Induction and Development Programme for 2026/27. The committee was also set to review the council's work programmes for the upcoming municipal years and consider guidance on pre-election publicity.

Member Induction and Development Programme, 2026/27

The committee was scheduled to consider the draft Member Induction and Development Programme for 2026/27. This programme aims to equip new councillors with the necessary skills for their roles and to support returning councillors in mentoring new members. The report outlined that the programme had been developed following the LGA Corporate Peer Challenge and the subsequent Non-Statutory Best Value Notice, with input from other London Boroughs. Key elements of the proposed programme included the offering of Personal Development Plans, a mix of internal and external training, mandatory training for Cabinet Members and those on statutory committees, and the introduction of an online Members' portal. The report also detailed plans for attendance monitoring, feedback mechanisms, and a focus on Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion. The aim was to achieve LGA Member Development Charter status by 2027.

The report indicated that the programme would include a variety of sessions throughout the year, covering topics such as safeguarding, data protection, council finances, working with residents and officers, environment and sustainable transport, commissioning and procurement, chairing skills, working with partners, communications and social media, digital transformation, climate emergency, public health, and emergency planning. Some sessions were designated as mandatory, while others were encouraged. The report also noted that the programme aimed to align with the principles of the Local Government Association Member Development Charter¹.

Pre-Election/Transition to a New Administration

The committee was scheduled to receive guidance on council publicity and activity in the lead-up to the May 2026 elections for the Mayor and Councillors. This guidance, issued by Janie Berry, Interim Director of Law and Governance and Monitoring Officer, aimed to ensure the council remained apolitical and that public funds were not used to promote any candidate or party. The guidance highlighted restrictions on political publicity, emphasizing that all council publicity must be objective and even-handed, particularly during the heightened sensitivity of the pre-election period. It outlined what types of publicity were covered, including events, website content, social media, press releases, and publications like the Newham Mag. The guidance also stressed the importance of officer neutrality and the careful use of council resources.

Standards Committee Work Programmes

The committee was scheduled to consider and agree its proposed work programmes for both the remainder of the 2025/2026 municipal year and the upcoming 2026/2027 municipal year. These work programmes outline the standing items and anticipated topics for discussion at future meetings. For the 2025/2026 year, standing items included updates on complaints and dispensations granted by the Monitoring Officer, alongside the approval of the Member Induction and Development Programme. The 2026/2027 work programme also included standing items and planned discussions on the review of the Register of Interests, the Gifts and Hospitality Register, updates on the MHCLG consultation on the Standards Framework, and the Standards Committee Annual Report.

Dispensations Granted by the Monitoring Officer

A report was scheduled to be presented regarding dispensations granted by the Monitoring Officer. This report detailed a four-year dispensation that was granted in 2022 and was due to expire in May 2026. The report sought the committee's views on whether this dispensation should be renewed for a further four years. The existing dispensations covered a range of interests, including those common to the majority of inhabitants in a ward, interests considered too remote to prejudice judgment, council housing (unless related to the member's tenancy), school meals and transport (unless relating to their own child's school), statutory sick pay, member allowances, setting Council Tax or precept, agreeing local Council Tax Benefit schemes, interests arising from membership of an outside body to which the authority has appointed them, and the Local Government Pension Scheme (unless relating to their own circumstances).

Standards Committee Annual Report to Annual Meeting of Council

The committee was scheduled to review the draft Annual Report of the Standards Committee, intended for submission to the Annual Meeting of Council. This report provides an overview of the committee's work during the previous municipal year and looks ahead to future issues. The draft report outlined the committee's roles, including receiving complaint reports, convening Hearings Sub-Committees, promoting high standards of conduct, advising on the Code of Conduct, and monitoring its operation. It also detailed the committee's membership, including the appointment of Independent Members and Independent Persons, and summarised the meetings and topics considered during the 2025/2026 municipal year. The report also included a section on the outcome of a government consultation regarding remote attendance and proxy voting in local authorities.