The Standards Committee of Bromley Council met on Wednesday 30 September 2026. The meeting's agenda included a review of the Monitoring Officer's general report, which provided updates on various standards issues, and a discussion on the implications of proposed government reforms to the local government standards and conduct framework.

Monitoring Officer's General Report

The committee was scheduled to receive an update from the Monitoring Officer, Tasnim Shawkat, Director of Corporate Services & Governance, on a range of standards issues. This report, detailed in the Public reports pack Wednesday 30-Sep-2026 19.00 Standards Committee.pdf, was presented following the local elections in May 2026 and was intended to update the committee on matters arising since its last meeting on 1 July 2025.

The report was expected to cover several key areas:

• Dispensations: The report noted that no dispensations had been granted to councillors since the committee's previous meeting. Dispensations allow councillors with a disclosable pecuniary interest to participate in meetings, typically concerning town planning or employment matters.
• Gifts and Hospitality Register: Councillors are required to declare gifts and hospitality received above £25, with these declarations published on the council's website.
• Work Programme: The committee's work programme for 2026/27 was to be reviewed, with members encouraged to suggest items for future discussion. The next scheduled meeting was set for 9 March 2027.
• Complaints Summary: An anonymised summary of complaints received against councillors since July 2025 was included. The report indicated that no formal standards investigations were outstanding at that time.
• Consultation on Strengthening the Standards and Conduct Framework: A significant portion of the report was dedicated to the government's consultation on reforms to the local government standards and conduct framework. The report outlined the government's response, published on 11 November 2025, which proposed a whole system reform including a mandatory national code of conduct, a new power of suspension for councillors for up to six months, financial sanctions, interim suspensions, automatic disqualification after two maximum suspensions, compulsory standards committees, and mandatory support for complainants and those subject to allegations. The report noted that Bromley Council had already implemented some of these recommendations prior to the government's response.
• Recruitment of Independent Persons: The report stated that the terms of office for Independent Persons Mr Jonathan Farrell and Mrs Kath Nicholson had expired, and they would not be seeking an extension. Arrangements were to be made to recruit two further Independent Persons.
• Training for Independent Persons: Refresher training for Independent Persons was scheduled to take place following the committee meeting on 30 September 2026, with councillors also encouraged to attend.

The report recommended that the committee note and comment on the Monitoring Officer's report and formally thank Mrs Kath Nicholson and Mr Jonathan Farrell for their service as Independent Persons.

Discussion with the Chief Executive (from previous meeting minutes)

Although not a primary agenda item for this meeting, the minutes from the previous meeting on 1 July 2025 included a discussion with the Chief Executive, Ade Adetosoye. This discussion covered the council's ethical standards, the importance of members being vigilant about social media use, and the implications of potential government changes to the Code of Conduct. Key points raised included the need for mandatory Code of Conduct training, the capacity for dealing with complaints, and the support provided to the Member Induction Programme. The Chief Executive also addressed concerns regarding publicity restrictions during the pre-election period (Purdah) and the potential impact of government reforms on the ethical framework. A recommendation was made at that previous meeting for a report on publicity in the pre-election period to be provided to the next meeting.