The Governance Standards and Audit Committee of Merton Council was scheduled to meet on Thursday 8 October 2026 to discuss proposed amendments to the council's constitution and to review annual reports on gifts and hospitality received by councillors and officers. The meeting's agenda also included updates on external and internal audits and a report on corporate complaints.

Amendments to the Constitution

A significant portion of the meeting was scheduled to be dedicated to proposed amendments to the council's constitution. These changes were intended to ensure the constitution remains legally compliant and reflects current best practices. Key areas for amendment included:

• Housing Revenue Account (HRA): Changes were proposed to incorporate the operation of the HRA, including references to the relevant ombudsman services, adding Housing Management Performance to the Sustainable Communities Scrutiny Panel's terms of reference, and specifying the annual approval of the HRA budget by the Council. The functions reserved to the Cabinet were also to be updated to include the setting of rents for council dwellings and related properties. Furthermore, a delegation for the appropriation of land and property between the general fund and the HRA was to be established.
• Town and Country Planning (Discharge of Local Planning Authority Functions) (England) Regulations 2026: Amendments were planned to align the constitution with new national legislation governing planning functions. This included a reform of planning committees, limiting their size to 13 members and introducing a two-tier system for determining planning applications. Routine and technical decisions would be delegated to officers, while applications of strategic importance would be considered by committees following a new gateway process. Member call-in powers were to be removed, and transparency measures, including public record-keeping and website publication, were to be implemented. Mandatory member training for those involved in planning decisions was also to be introduced.
• Monitoring Officer Protocol: Updates to the Monitoring Officer Protocol were scheduled to reflect current practice and legislation.
• General Delegation to Chief Executive and Executive Directors: A proposed change to the general delegation for the agreement of settlements for termination payments was to be discussed, allowing officers to determine payments up to £50,000 in consultation with the Section 151 Officer or Chief Executive.

The Governance, Standards and Audit Committee was to consider recommending these amendments to the Full Council for authorisation.

Annual Gifts and Hospitality Reports

The committee was scheduled to review two annual reports concerning gifts and hospitality: one for councillors and one for officers.

• Annual Gifts and Hospitality Report - Councillors: This report was to provide an update on the registration of gifts and hospitality received by councillors. The council's Code of Conduct requires councillors to register any gift or hospitality with an estimated value of at least £25 within 28 days of receipt, or any significant offer declined. The report was expected to detail the number of declarations made, the nature of the gifts and hospitality, and highlight any trends. The committee was to consider the report and the ongoing reminders to councillors about their declaration responsibilities.
• Annual Gifts and Hospitality Report - Officers: Similarly, this report was to detail the registration of gifts and hospitality received by officers. The Code of Conduct for Employees requires officers to report all offers of gifts and significant gifts (over £25) to managers, with acceptance only permitted in limited, pre-approved circumstances. All offers of hospitality must also be reported, with registration required regardless of value, though acceptance is also restricted. The report was to outline the number of registrations across departments and note any trends. The committee was to consider this report.

Audit Updates and Complaints

The meeting agenda also included updates on audit activities and a report on corporate complaints.

• External Audit Update: The committee was to receive an update from the external auditor, EY, on their work. This would likely cover the progress of audits and any key findings or recommendations.
• Internal Audit Progress Report: A report on the progress of internal audits was scheduled, providing an overview of ongoing audit work and any identified issues or assurances.
• Corporate Complaints Report: The committee was to consider a report on corporate complaints received by the council. This would likely detail the volume and nature of complaints, response times, and any identified trends or areas for improvement.

The meeting was also scheduled to include the minutes of the previous meeting and a review of the committee's work programme.