The Standards and General Purposes Committee of Buckinghamshire Council met on Thursday 30 July 2026. The meeting included a presentation on the work of the Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Association of Local Councils (BMKALC), a discussion on community governance requests from two parish councils, and a review of Code of Conduct complaints.

Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Association of Local Councils Presentation

Melinda Wolf, Chief Executive Officer of the Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Association of Local Councils (BMKALC), delivered a presentation on the organisation's role in supporting local councils. BMKALC provides advice, training, and acts as a collective voice for councils across Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes. Ms. Wolf highlighted the increasing complexity of local government and the challenges faced by councillors, particularly in areas of governance, member conduct, and transparency. She noted that while training for councillors is not a legal requirement, BMKALC offers a range of free and paid training sessions, including induction training for new councillors and clerks, and specialist training in areas like planning and finance. The presentation also touched upon the challenges of managing HR issues, dealing with bullying and harassment, and the importance of transparency in data management and responding to Freedom of Information requests. Ms. Wolf also discussed BMKALC's efforts to promote collaboration and share best practices among councils, and their role in lobbying central government on behalf of local authorities.

Community Governance Requests from Parish Councils

The committee considered requests from two parish councils, Whaddon Parish Council and Watermead Parish Council, for community governance reviews. Both councils are seeking to increase the number of their councillors. Whaddon Parish Council requested an increase from seven to ten councillors, anticipating significant housing growth which is expected to increase the electorate by approximately 700%. Watermead Parish Council requested an increase from seven to nine councillors, citing increasing demands on resources, a desire for better representation, and a mandate from residents who supported this proposal in the recent local elections.

The committee discussed the process for undertaking community governance reviews, which is a statutory responsibility of Buckinghamshire Council. It was noted that such reviews can be initiated by a petition from a percentage of the electorate or by a formal request from a town or parish council. The recommendation was to establish a Community Governance Review Working Group to consider these requests in more detail, draw up terms of reference, and undertake necessary consultations. There was some discussion about how these individual requests would fit with a potential county-wide review planned for a future meeting. Councillor Martin Tett CBE raised concerns about the timing of these requests in relation to the ongoing development of the local plan, which is not yet finalised. Ultimately, the committee agreed to refer these two requests to the working group for consideration on a case-by-case basis, with any further requests to be discussed similarly.

Code of Conduct Review Q1 - 2026/27

The committee reviewed the Code of Conduct complaints received during the first quarter of 2026/27 (April to June 2026). The report indicated a decrease in the number of complaints against Buckinghamshire Councillors, with six complaints received compared to ten in the previous quarter and thirteen in the same quarter of the previous year. Of these, five were closed, with no breaches found.

Complaints against parish and town councillors remained at a similar level, with eighteen complaints received. Six of these related to a single parish council, which had led to a training session for that council's councillors and mediation between some of its members. The report noted that disrespect remained the most common cause of complaint, although this allegation had not been upheld in any of the closed cases for Buckinghamshire Councillors.

Concerns were raised by councillors about the repeated dismissal of complaints due to freedom of expression and the perceived lack of effective action in some cases. Councillor Karen Dickson highlighted that if behaviour is improper, it should be addressed, regardless of whether the individual was acting as a councillor or not. The effectiveness of training and mediation in reducing complaints was discussed, with positive feedback on the impact of the training and mediation at the specific parish council. The committee also discussed the need for clearer guidance on social media conduct and the distinction between personal and councillor capacity.

Work Programme

The committee noted the Standards & General Purposes Committee Work Programme for 2026/27, which includes future discussions on Code of Conduct complaints, community governance reviews, and the annual review of member conduct complaints.