The Standards Committee of Manchester Council is scheduled to convene on Thursday, 29 October 2026, to discuss a range of matters concerning the conduct and ethical standards of councillors. Key topics for discussion include a review of the arrangements for handling complaints about councillor conduct, the process for granting dispensations for members' interests, and the appointment of independent members to the committee.

Review of Councillor Conduct Complaint Arrangements

A significant item on the agenda is the review of the operation and efficacy of the arrangements for dealing with complaints that Council Members have failed to comply with the Council's Code of Conduct for Members. This report, presented by Fiona Ledden, City Solicitor and Monitoring Officer, and Andrew Lee, Assistant Director Legal Services: Governance, will update the committee on how these arrangements have been functioning. The report details the timeframes for acknowledging and processing complaints, noting that between 1 February 2026 and 9 October 2026, nine complaints were received. While most acknowledgements and initial decisions were made within the stipulated timeframes, four complaints experienced delays in the Monitoring Officer's decision-making process. The report concludes that the current arrangements remain fit for purpose and do not require further amendments. The Council's Code of Conduct for Members¹ sets out the standards expected of councillors, and the Arrangements for dealing with complaints that Council Members have failed to comply with the Council's Code of Conduct for Members² outlines the procedure for addressing alleged breaches.

Process for Dispensations

The committee is also scheduled to review the process for granting dispensations in relation to Members' Interests. This report, also from Fiona Ledden, Andrew Lee, and Stephen Hollard, Head of Legal (Governance), will examine the operation and efficacy of this process. The Localism Act 2011³ requires members to declare Disclosable Pecuniary Interests (DPIs)⁴ and, generally, to withdraw from discussions and voting on matters where they have such an interest. However, the Act allows for dispensations in specific circumstances, such as when the number of members prohibited from participating would impede the transaction of business. The Council has delegated authority for granting dispensations, with the City Solicitor handling certain cases and the Standards Committee, after consulting an Independent Person, dealing with others. The report notes that new members receive induction training on Members' Interests, and a dispensation allowing participation and voting on budget-related matters and members' allowances has been in place for some time. No specific dispensation requests have been made recently beyond the usual budget dispensations.

Appointment of Independent Members

The appointment of an Independent Member of the Standards Committee and two Independent Persons will also be considered. This report, from Fiona Ledden, Andrew Lee, and Stephen Hollard, provides an update on the recruitment process for these crucial roles. The Standards Committee is composed of elected councillors, a parish councillor, and two independent members, with one of the independent members serving as Chair. Independent Persons are appointed to assist the Council in considering complaints against councillors. The report highlights that the terms of office for Geoff Linnell, an independent co-opted member, and Independent Persons Alan Eastwood and Sarah Beswick are due to expire on 18 November 2026. An open recruitment exercise has been undertaken, with interviews scheduled for the week commencing 9 November. Recommendations for appointments will be presented to the Full Council meeting on 25 November 2026.

Review of Use of Council Resources Policy

The committee will also receive an update on the operation and efficacy of the Use of Council Resources Policy for Members. This report, from Fiona Ledden and Andrew Lee, indicates that no member conduct complaints related to the use of council resources have been received since the last report. The policy, which is part of the Council's Constitution, outlines the acceptable use of resources such as stationery, IT equipment, internet, and email. It clarifies that council resources are primarily for Council business, with limited personal use of email and internet permitted. The report recommends that no amendments to the policy are currently required and supports its recirculation to members.

Work Programme

Finally, the committee will have the opportunity to consider and revise its work programme for future meetings. The report from the Governance and Scrutiny Support Unit outlines planned items for upcoming meetings, including the Annual Standards Report, updates on ethical governance, and reviews of various protocols such as the Planning Protocol and the Member/Officer Relations Protocol.