The Standards Committee of Wokingham Council is scheduled to convene on Tuesday 27 October 2026. The meeting's agenda includes an update on councillor code of conduct complaints and a review of the vice-chair appointment.

Update on Councillor Code of Conduct Complaints

The committee is scheduled to receive a regular update on complaints made under the Councillor Code of Conduct. This report, detailed in the Public reports pack 27th-Oct-2026 19.00 Standards Committee, will provide information on the number, types, and outcomes of complaints received. According to the report, five complaints have been lodged in the 2026/27 municipal year to date, with no specific new trends identified. The report outlines the process for considering these complaints, which involves an initial assessment by the Monitoring Officer, Andrew Moulton, with consultation from an Independent Person. Depending on the assessment, matters can be resolved informally through actions such as mediation, apologies, or training, or they may proceed to a formal investigation. The report also includes a summary of complaints received, detailing their reference, date, complainant, subject member, a summary of the allegation, and the progress or conclusion reached. For instance, one complaint (T&P 1) received on 13 May 2026, concerning alleged breaches of the respect standard and potential bullying, resulted in a decision notice being published on the Borough Council's website.

Appointment of Vice-Chair

The committee is also scheduled to review the appointment of its Vice-Chair. Councillor Caroline Smith currently holds this position, having been appointed at the previous meeting on 14 July 2026.

The meeting will also include time for public questions, questions from Parish/Town Councillors, and questions from Wokingham Borough Councillors. Apologies for absence and the minutes of the previous meeting held on 14 July 2026 are also on the agenda.

The Standards Committee is composed of councillors and co-opted representatives from local Parish and Town Councils. The current committee members include Councillor Beth Rowland (Chair), Councillor Caroline Smith (Vice-Chair), Councillor David Bragg, Councillor Rachelle Shepherd-DuBey, Councillor Melanie De Jong, Councillor Sam Akhtar, and Councillor Rebecca Margetts. Parish and Town Council representatives are Sally Gurney (Wokingham Town Council), Sheena Matthews (Twyford Parish Council), and Jackie Jagger (Earley Town Council). The meeting will be facilitated by Neil Carr, Democratic & Electoral Services Specialist.