The Standards Advisory Committee of Tower Hamlets Council met on Thursday 25 November 2021 to discuss a range of issues concerning councillor conduct and the functioning of the committee. Key decisions included the approval of the new Code of Conduct, which will come into effect in May, and discussions around enhancing the Member Induction Plan to better prepare new councillors for their roles.

Complaint Monitoring

The committee received an update on the monitoring of code of conduct complaints. Since May, seven complaints have been lodged, with five occurring since the July meeting. Of these, four remain open and three have been closed. The majority of complaints were from members of the public. One case involved a councillor's delayed response to emails, which was attributed to a shared workload with the late Councillor John Pulford MBE Pearce. This resulted in an apology to the complainant, who has since complained to the Ombudsman about the delay. Another case concerned a councillor who recused themselves from a neighbourhood dispute due to a conflict of interest, which was deemed appropriate.

Two open complaints relate to the contentious issue of Liveable Streets . One alleges a councillor was not even-handed and took sides, failing to represent all constituents' interests. The other, framed as a data protection breach, concerns a councillor's interpretation and use of data from a consultation exercise, which the complainant felt was unacceptable and potentially breached GDPR. The committee is awaiting further input from the Independent Person (IP) on these matters. The council is working to appoint a second IP to alleviate the workload.

A complaint alleging discriminatory actions by a councillor was closed as the allegations did not stand up and the complainant did not accept a mediated meeting. Another complaint, also related to Liveable Streets , alleged a breach of GDPR regarding a councillor's use of extracted data for analytical purposes. This is ongoing, with a preliminary view suggesting a potential breach and the possibility of training for the councillor. A complaint regarding the failure to register a HMO was closed as the councillor had permission from the previous Monitoring Officer to withhold certain addresses. A further complaint, not received through normal channels, alleged the use of council resources on party political leaflets. The member concerned has been asked to address this issue, and the IP has been consulted.

Member Induction Plan

The committee discussed the ongoing development of the Member Induction Plan, intended to prepare councillors for the period after the May elections, anticipating a significant turnover. Early draft examples of seminars were presented, with feedback indicating strong support for a more gradual induction process to avoid overwhelming new members. However, there was also a call to ensure new councillors have immediate access to essential resources like laptops, IDs, and email accounts to begin their work promptly. Suggestions included recording modules for flexible learning, integrating the Code of Conduct's values into all training, and prioritising safeguarding and self-protection for elected members, particularly during election periods. The idea of a buddy system for new councillors was also raised, with a suggestion that this might be best facilitated within political groups. Discussions also touched upon the need for co-opted members to receive induction and for all members to have a clearer understanding of the council's organisational structure and decision-making processes.

Code of Conduct and Standards in Public Life

The committee discussed the importance of member behaviour, particularly as the election period approaches. Councillor Fiona Browne shared insights from a webinar by Lord Evans, Chair of the Committee on Standards in Public Life. Key themes included the importance of independent roles in standards, the pressures on standards from social media and the speed of public discourse, and the need for stronger rules and greater independence in upholding standards. Lord Evans highlighted concerns around a lack of independence, enforcement powers, pressure on appointments, and insufficient transparency in lobbying. Councillor Browne reflected on the council's values-based Code of Conduct and questioned the effectiveness of a purely sanctions-based approach, suggesting that fostering an understanding of the why behind standards – relating to trust, consent, and functioning democracy – is more motivating. The committee agreed to consider reflecting these discussions in the member bulletin to remind councillors of their responsibilities and values, especially during the election period.

Gifts and Hospitality

The committee received the quarterly report on declarations of gifts and hospitality. There was a notable increase in declarations since the last meeting, with 13 reported compared to two previously. This rise was attributed to the easing of restrictions allowing more public engagement. A reminder about declarations will be issued before Christmas. All councillors have confirmed their registers of interests are up to date or have confirmed no updates are needed within the last six months.

Dispensations

The report on dispensations confirmed that no specific or general dispensations have been granted since the July meeting. Longstanding general dispensations, as outlined in paragraph 3.5 of the report, continue to apply in areas such as housing decisions, council tax setting, and member allowances, allowing councillors to participate in discussions despite potential interests.

Effectiveness of the Standards Committee

A questionnaire was distributed to councillors to gauge their understanding of the Standards Committee's role and to seek ideas for engagement. Of the five responses received, all indicated that councillors understood the committee's role and were content with the current arrangements, with no significant suggestions for change beyond potentially increasing its presence in the Member's Bulletin. While the sample size was small, the general sentiment suggested a positive view of the committee's work. Councillor Carr expressed appreciation for the Standards Committee and its work, particularly highlighting the positive experience of working on the standards protocol.

Work Plan

The committee reviewed its work plan for the year. The new Code of Conduct was approved by the council and will come into force in May. Future reports will include updates on registered gifts and hospitality, the Member Induction Plan, practical guidance for members handling confidential information, and initial work on the member-officer relations protocol. The committee will also consider reports on guidance for members on outside bodies and the effectiveness of the Standards Committee.