The Standards Committee of Camden Council met on Monday 12 October 2026 to discuss the recruitment of Independent Persons, review data on code of conduct complaints against councillors, and receive updates on standards matters. Key decisions included authorising the Borough Solicitor to begin a recruitment exercise for two Independent Persons and agreeing to note reports on complaints and standards updates.

Independent Persons: Recruitment Process

The committee agreed to authorise the Borough Solicitor to begin a recruitment exercise in early 2027 for the appointment of two Independent Persons, who would take up their roles from the start of the 2027/28 municipal year. This decision followed a discussion where a committee member raised concerns that the current Independent Persons' tenures were significantly longer than the best practice guideline of two-year terms. Another member advocated for formally adopting a two-year limit and suggested using social media to attract a more diverse applicant pool. Joyce Golder, Head of Legal Services and Deputy Borough Solicitor, confirmed that the council's communications team would be consulted on advertising platforms. The committee also agreed that if suitable candidates were not found, the current Independent Persons could be asked to continue for a one-year term. Furthermore, representatives would be nominated to an Appointment Panel within a month, and the Borough Solicitor would be empowered to make a recommendation directly to the Council for the appointment of successful candidates for a fixed term of two years, with the option for renewal.

Comparing Code of Conduct Complaints Against Members

Consideration was given to a report presenting data on code of conduct complaints made against councillors in neighbouring north and central London boroughs. A committee member inquired whether the figures represented all complaints or only those passing a specific threshold, to which Joyce Golder confirmed that all initial complaints were included. The comparison was welcomed as a demonstration of Camden's commitment to transparency, with the low number of upheld complaints being highlighted as a critical metric. A request was made for future reports to include a thematic breakdown of complaints to help guide member behaviour and to address concerns that the low number of complaints might indicate a lack of awareness of the complaints process. The report noted that Camden had received seven complaints in the 2025/26 municipal year, a figure consistent with neighbouring boroughs such as Barnet, Enfield, Hackney, Haringey, Islington, Lambeth, Southwark, Tower Hamlets, Wandsworth, and Westminster, although direct comparisons were cautioned due to differing reporting frameworks. The committee resolved to note the report.

Update on Standards Matters - October 2026

The committee received an update on recent standards matters. This included information on the Ethics and Integrity Commission's project to develop practical guidance on public sector codes of conduct in support of the Public Office (Accountability) Bill. The report also highlighted that anticipated local government standards reforms, including a mandatory councillor code of conduct and a legal requirement for standards committees, were expected to be introduced as soon as parliamentary time allowed. Examples of recent standards cases were presented, including one from Durham County Council concerning councillors' emails and another from Warwickshire County Council regarding a complaint against the Leader. The committee resolved to note the contents of the report.

Standards Information and Guidance Record

The committee reviewed the record of standards information and guidance issued to Members of the Council. A question was raised regarding the frequency of Code of Conduct training, with a suggestion for annual or biennial refresher summaries. Joyce Golder advised that training needed to be balanced against members' time commitments. The discussion also touched upon the challenges of email management and the risk of using personal email accounts for council business, with members noting that guidance on social media and IT use was clearly defined within the Council's Constitution. It was suggested that this guidance could be circulated again. The committee resolved to note the record of standards guidance.