The Standards Advisory Committee of Newham Council met on Monday 7 March 2022 to discuss the council's work programme, member induction and training, and the ethical framework. The meeting was scheduled to review proposed updates to the council's work programme for 2021-2022, consider a comprehensive induction and training programme for the Mayor and councillors, and receive an update on declarations of interest, gifts, and hospitality.

Proposed Work Programme 2021-2022

The committee was scheduled to review the proposed work programme for the remainder of the 2021-2022 municipal year. This included plans for reviewing the council's protocols, which are documented in the council's constitution. The work programme indicated that a report on a new Members' Code of Conduct, based on a model code from the Local Government Association (LGA)¹, would be presented after the local elections. This approach aimed to ensure that the newly constituted council would be involved in the development process. A work programme for the 2022-2023 municipal year was also scheduled to be presented at the subsequent meeting in April 2022.

Mayor and Member Induction and Training Programme 2022

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to discussing the proposed Mayor and Member Induction Programme for 2022. This programme is designed to support the Mayor and councillors following the local elections on 5 May 2022, which would see an increase in the number of councillors. The induction and training are intended to ensure a smooth transition, a clear understanding of roles and responsibilities, and to equip elected officials with the necessary information and tools to perform their duties effectively.

The programme includes several components:

• Welcome and Onboarding: This phase covers essential administrative tasks immediately following the election count, such as accepting office, completing the register of interests, and receiving equipment. Induction sessions were planned for 9 May 2022, featuring introductions from the Chief Executive, Althea Loderick, and the Mayor, Rokhsana Fiaz OBE, covering Newham's context, priorities, and challenges. Sessions on decision-making, codes of conduct, gifts, declarations, and allowances were also scheduled, along with introductions to various council services and IT support. Candidates standing for election were to receive the Code of Conduct and a Candidates Letter in mid-April 2022.
• General Member Training: This encompasses a range of sessions, delivered either online or in person, for both new and re-elected members. Essential training, to be delivered between 9 and 26 May, includes Decision Making and Codes of Conduct, iCasework and Member Enquiries, Being an Effective Ward Councillor, Participating in Council and Committee Meetings, and Cyber Security and GDPR. Further essential training, commencing from 26 May, covers topics such as the Corporate Plan, Directorate introductions, Member security, communications, social media, emergency planning, chairing skills, participation in outside bodies, budget principles, corporate parenting, safeguarding, cultural awareness, and equalities, diversity, and inclusion. Foundational skills training, spread over the first eight months of office, includes sessions on citizen assemblies, civic engagement, persuasive communication, licensing, mental health, public speaking, modern slavery, LGBTQ+ awareness, antisemitism, Islamophobia, Prevent/counter-terrorism, domestic abuse, mental health awareness, and dementia support.
• Committee Specific Training: This training is tailored for members appointed to specific committees, including Planning, Licensing, Overview and Scrutiny, Audit, Treasury and Accounts, Pensions, Standards Advisory Committee, and Chief Officer Appointments. This training is scheduled to be delivered after the Annual Council Meeting in May 2022.
• Additional Member Support: This includes an Information Portal, an intranet site providing access to guidance on declarations of interests, the Code of Conduct, the Council's Constitution, training schedules, key contacts, and links to external resources from organisations like the LGA. Online training resources from Fusion, My Career Development portal, and OneSource Health and Safety portal were also to be compiled.
• Approach to Mayor Induction: For a new Mayor, transition briefings were to be prepared covering policy, finance, procurement, and organisational issues, including manifesto delivery and specific challenges. Individual meetings with Legal Services, the Chief Executive, and service directors were also planned. Bespoke briefings and training would be provided to Cabinet Members.
• Member Offboarding: Procedures for departing members not standing for re-election were also outlined, including IT account decommissioning, handing in equipment, GDPR responsibilities, and the termination of payroll and allowances.

The financial implications for the induction programme were estimated to be between £12,000 and £14,000, to be funded from existing budgets within Member Support.

Ethical Framework Update

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on the council's ethical framework. This included a review of declarations of interests made by the Mayor and councillors at council meetings between 9 October 2021 and 21 February 2022. The report indicated that a single gift had been declared during this period. Additionally, the committee was to be briefed on complaints received against members since 9 October 2021, with an update on previously considered complaints. The report noted that the council's Code of Conduct, adopted in accordance with the Localism Act 2011, requires members to register and disclose interests and to act in accordance with the code. An interactive map of members' registers of interests is available on the council's website.