The Assessment Sub-Panel of the Panel of Independent Persons met on Wednesday 22 July 2026. The meeting's agenda included a discussion on the Members' Code of Conduct and Complaints Procedure, as well as several items concerning alleged breaches of this code.

Members' Code of Conduct and Complaints Procedure

The sub-panel was scheduled to consider the City of London Corporation's procedures for handling written allegations of breaches of its Members' Code of Conduct. This procedure, established under the Localism Act 2011, applies to both elected and co-opted members. The report pack outlined the process for dealing with complaints, including a pre-complaint protocol for member-to-member disputes, the role of the Panel of Independent Persons, and the operation of sub-panels for assessment, hearings, and appeals.

The procedure details how complaints are received, assessed, and investigated. It specifies that the Assessment Panel must first ensure a complaint meets certain tests, such as being against a named member and relating to conduct within the last three months, unless there are reasonable grounds for delay. Following this, the panel considers assessment criteria, including the seriousness of the alleged conduct, whether the complaint is malicious or vexatious, and if it has already been subject to investigation. The Assessment Panel can then recommend no action, alternative action such as training or mediation, a formal investigation, or refer the matter directly to the Hearing Panel.

The report pack also detailed the hearing and appeal procedures, including the potential sanctions for breaches of the code, which can include censure, withdrawal of hospitality, or removal from committees. The procedure emphasises the importance of transparency and public interest in the handling of complaints, while also acknowledging the need for confidentiality in certain circumstances. The document also included the City of London Corporation's Code of Conduct for Members, which is based on the Seven Principles of Public Life, also known as the Nolan Principles. These principles guide members to act with integrity, honesty, and respect, and to avoid conflicts of interest.

Alleged Breaches of the Members' Code of Conduct

The agenda indicated that the sub-panel was scheduled to consider several items relating to alleged breaches of the Members' Code of Conduct. These items were designated as For Decision and included a Subject Member Response for each alleged breach. Due to the nature of these items, the public was to be excluded from the meeting for these discussions, as they were likely to involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined by the Local Government Act 1972. The specific details of these alleged breaches and the responses from the subject members were not made public.