The Standards Advisory Committee of Tower Hamlets Council met on Tuesday 20 October 2026 to review updates on the register of interests, gifts and hospitality, and the handling of code of conduct complaints. The committee also received a comprehensive report on the 2026 Member Induction and Learning and Development Programme.

Register of Interests, Gifts and Hospitality Update

The committee received an update on the register of interests and declarations of gifts and hospitality submitted by Members. Following the May elections, all Members completed their declarations of interest, which have now been checked and published on the Council's website. To ensure these remain up-to-date, Democratic Services will send quarterly reminders to all Members. For the period from 26 June to 8 October, no declarations of gifts or hospitality were received.

Members' Code of Conduct Matters

The committee was updated on complaints and investigations relating to alleged breaches of the Council's Code of Conduct active during the municipal year up to 23 September 2026. Since the last report on 13 July, three new complaints had been received, with one remaining open. All complaints received in the current municipal year had been resolved within two months. Two of these complaints related to members' responsiveness to constituents, while others involved alleged breaches of confidentiality and the use of social media. These were resolved through discussion with the Independent Person without formal investigation.

A discussion also took place regarding anti-racism training. It was noted that while there isn't a specific course available for Members, consideration is being given to incorporating it into the Member Development Programme. Officers confirmed they would investigate whether other local authorities have implemented similar anti-racism training for employees, drawing inspiration from the NHS approach.

Member Induction and Learning and Development Programme

A detailed report was presented on the Member Induction Programme for 2026 and the ongoing Member Learning and Development Programme. The induction programme, which ran from May to July, was developed through extensive consultation and included pre-election information, a welcome evening, administrative induction, and a comprehensive training programme. New councillors attended an average of 15 sessions each, with positive feedback received on the interactive elements, knowledgeable trainers, and the opportunity for discussion. The overall average score for the induction sessions was 5.47 out of 6.

The report also highlighted the progress on Personal Development Plans (PDPs), with 38 out of 45 councillors having completed them. Future plans include a Member Induction Survey to gather feedback, the continuation of personal and group mentoring, and the development of the Member Development Programme for 2026/27 onwards, potentially including topics such as the use of AI. The committee was also informed about the ongoing work towards achieving the LGA Charter Mark, with a focus on demonstrating how member development supports the council's partnership working.

Work Plan

The committee reviewed its work plan for the upcoming year. It was noted that updates on the Continuous Improvement Plan would be a key item at the next meeting. The committee also discussed the ongoing recruitment process for Co-opted Members for the Standards Advisory Committee, with applications due by 4 September 2026.

Any Other Business

Under Any Other Business, Matthew Mannion, Corporate Head of Democratic and Governance Services, provided an update on structural changes within the organisation, including the creation of a new Chief Compliance Officer post, which will encompass the role of Monitoring Officer once recruited. He also informed the committee that a number of co-opted members' terms were coming to an end, and the process for reappointment or interviews was underway.

Fiona Browne, Independent Co-opted Member, raised concerns about learning about the Chief Compliance Officer role through an external network email, rather than direct communication. She also mentioned discussions with the Chief Executive regarding external auditors' reports on controls and governance, confirming that the committee's work was not seen as a shortfall.

The committee also discussed the positive behaviour observed at the last council meeting on 7 October, with the Chief Executive noting that members seemed to have got the message regarding conduct.

Finally, a comment was made regarding an outdated list in Appendix 2 of the Member Induction report, which included councillors no longer serving. It was agreed that the list would be updated, and a note would be added to indicate previous councillors.