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Audit, Governance and Standards Committee - Saturday 17 May 2025 12.00 pm

May 17, 2025 View on council website
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Summary

The Audit, Governance and Standards Committee met on Saturday 17 May 2025 to discuss the formation of sub-committees. The committee voted to establish two sub-committees: one to handle complaints of misconduct against elected councillors and co-opted members, and another to consider civic awards. The decision on the membership of these sub-committees was deferred to the next committee meeting.

Formation of Audit, Governance and Standards Sub-Committees

The committee voted to establish two sub-committees: the Audit, Governance and Standards (Standards) Sub-Committee, which will consider complaints of misconduct against elected councillors and co-opted members; and the Audit, Governance and Standards (Civic Awards) Sub-Committee, which will consider civic awards. However, the decision on the membership for these sub-committees was reserved for the next meeting of the Audit, Governance and Standards Committee.

The council's constitution outlines the responsibilities of the Audit, Governance and Standards Committee, including the establishment of these sub-committees. The report notes that the Standards Sub-Committee meets on an ad hoc basis, having convened only once in the past five years, while the Civic Awards Sub-Committee typically meets once a year in February.

The report also highlights the importance of clear accountability arrangements for promoting high standards of conduct and boosting public confidence in the council. It states that:

Clear arrangements concerning the accountability of members are very important for promoting high standards of conduct. In addition it is important in aiding the decision-making process and helping to boost public confidence in the council. These arrangements ensure that members of the public are aware of the process in place to ensure that high standards of conduct are maintained within the council.

The Southwark Civic Awards scheme, initiated in 1997, recognises exceptional contributions to community life by individuals and organisations in the borough. The council assembly resolved in 2016 that decisions on granting civic awards be delegated to a sub-committee of the Audit, Governance and Standards Committee. The membership of the Civic Awards Sub-Committee must include four co-opted members, two of whom must be women.

Attendees

Profile image for CouncillorBarrie Hargrove
Councillor Barrie Hargrove  Labour •  Peckham
Profile image for CouncillorMaggie Browning
Councillor Maggie Browning  Labour Group Whip •  Labour •  Dulwich Hill
Profile image for CouncillorDora Dixon-Fyle MBE
Councillor Dora Dixon-Fyle MBE  (Labour and Co-operative) •  Labour •  Camberwell Green
Profile image for CouncillorNick Johnson
Councillor Nick Johnson  Liberal Democrats •  Surrey Docks
Profile image for CouncillorGraham Neale
Councillor Graham Neale  Liberal Democrats •  St George's
Profile image for CouncillorAndy Simmons
Councillor Andy Simmons  Labour •  Dulwich Wood
Profile image for CouncillorMichael Situ
Councillor Michael Situ  Labour •  Old Kent Road
Amrit Mangra
Geraldine Chadwick
Doreen Forrester-Brown
Timothy Jones
Clive Palfreyman
Virginia Wynn-Jones
Profile image for CouncillorJon Hartley
Councillor Jon Hartley  Labour •  Dulwich Hill
Profile image for Councillor Suzanne Abachor
Councillor Suzanne Abachor  (Labour and Co-operative) •  Labour •  Camberwell Green
Profile image for Councillor Evelyn Akoto  - Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, Southwark Council
Councillor Evelyn Akoto - Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, Southwark Council  Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing •  Labour •  Old Kent Road
Profile image for Councillor Jasmine Ali  - Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Children, Education and Refugees
Councillor Jasmine Ali - Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Children, Education and Refugees  Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Children, Education and Refugees •  Labour •  Rye Lane
Profile image for CouncillorNaima Ali
Councillor Naima Ali  Labour •  North Walworth
Profile image for CouncillorJohn Batteson
Councillor John Batteson  Cabinet Member for Climate Emergency, Jobs and Business •  Labour •  Newington
Profile image for CouncillorRachel Bentley
Councillor Rachel Bentley  Liberal Democrats •  North Bermondsey
Profile image for Councillor Cassandra Brown
Councillor Cassandra Brown  Labour •  South Bermondsey
Profile image for Councillor Victor Chamberlain
Councillor Victor Chamberlain  Leader of the Opposition •  Liberal Democrats •  Borough & Bankside
Profile image for CouncillorSunil Chopra
Councillor Sunil Chopra  Labour •  London Bridge & West Bermondsey
Profile image for CouncillorStephanie Cryan
Councillor Stephanie Cryan  (Labour and Co-operative) Cabinet Member for Equalities, Democracy and Finance •  Labour •  Rotherhithe
Profile image for CouncillorEllie Cumbo
Councillor Ellie Cumbo  Labour •  St Giles
Profile image for CouncillorSam Dalton
Councillor Sam Dalton  Deputy Cabinet Member for Supported Housing •  Labour •  London Bridge & West Bermondsey
Profile image for CouncillorMohamed Deen
Councillor Mohamed Deen  (Labour Party) •  Labour •  Faraday
Profile image for CouncillorHelen Dennis
Councillor Helen Dennis  (Labour and Co-operative) Cabinet Member for New Homes and Sustainable Development •  Labour •  Chaucer
Profile image for CouncillorEsme Dobson
Councillor Esme Dobson  Labour •  Rye Lane
Profile image for CouncillorSabina Emmanuel
Councillor Sabina Emmanuel  The Deputy Mayor of Southwark •  Labour •  Peckham
Profile image for CouncillorNatasha Ennin
Councillor Natasha Ennin  (Labour and Co-operative) Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Neighbourhoods •  Labour •  Newington
Profile image for CouncillorRenata Hamvas
Councillor Renata Hamvas  Labour •  Peckham Rye
Profile image for CouncillorKetzia Harper
Councillor Ketzia Harper  Labour •  Faraday
Profile image for CouncillorSam Foster
Councillor Sam Foster  Labour •  Faraday
Profile image for CouncillorYoucef Hassaine
Councillor Youcef Hassaine  Labour •  Newington
Profile image for CouncillorEmily Hickson
Councillor Emily Hickson  Labour •  London Bridge & West Bermondsey
Profile image for CouncillorAdam Hood
Councillor Adam Hood  Liberal Democrats •  Surrey Docks
Profile image for Councillor Laura Johnson
Councillor Laura Johnson  Labour •  Chaucer
Profile image for CouncillorSarah King
Councillor Sarah King  Cabinet Member for Council Homes •  Labour •  Champion Hill
Profile image for CouncillorSunny Lambe
Councillor Sunny Lambe  The Mayor of Southwark •  Labour •  South Bermondsey
Profile image for Councillor Maria Linforth-Hall  - Opposition spokesperson for Health
Councillor Maria Linforth-Hall - Opposition spokesperson for Health  Liberal Democrats •  St George's
Profile image for CouncillorRichard Livingstone
Councillor Richard Livingstone  Labour •  Old Kent Road
Profile image for CouncillorJames McAsh
Councillor James McAsh  Cabinet Member for Clean Air, Streets and Waste •  Labour •  Goose Green
Profile image for CouncillorHamish McCallum
Councillor Hamish McCallum  Liberal Democrats •  North Bermondsey
Profile image for CouncillorDarren Merrill
Councillor Darren Merrill  Labour •  North Walworth
Profile image for CouncillorVictoria Mills
Councillor Victoria Mills  Labour •  Peckham Rye
Profile image for CouncillorPortia Mwangangye
Councillor Portia Mwangangye  Cabinet Member for Leisure, Parks and Young People •  Labour •  Goose Green
Profile image for Councillor Jason Ochere
Councillor Jason Ochere  Labour •  St Giles
Profile image for CouncillorDavid Parton
Councillor David Parton  (Labour and Co-operative) •  Labour •  Rye Lane
Profile image for CouncillorLeo Pollak
Councillor Leo Pollak  Labour •  South Bermondsey
Profile image for CouncillorReginald Popoola
Councillor Reginald Popoola  Deputy Cabinet Member for Landlord Services •  Labour •  Nunhead & Queen's Road
Profile image for CouncillorSandra Rhule
Councillor Sandra Rhule  Labour •  Nunhead & Queen's Road
Profile image for Councillor Bethan Roberts
Councillor Bethan Roberts  (Labour and Co-operative) •  Labour •  Rotherhithe
Profile image for CouncillorCatherine Rose
Councillor Catherine Rose  Labour •  Dulwich Wood
Profile image for CouncillorJane Salmon
Councillor Jane Salmon  Liberal Democrats •  Surrey Docks
Profile image for Councillor Martin Seaton
Councillor Martin Seaton  Labour •  North Walworth
Profile image for CouncillorCharlie Smith
Councillor Charlie Smith  Labour •  Goose Green
Profile image for CouncillorCleo Soanes
Councillor Cleo Soanes  Labour •  Peckham
Profile image for CouncillorEmily Tester
Councillor Emily Tester  Liberal Democrats •  North Bermondsey
Profile image for CouncillorJoseph Vambe
Councillor Joseph Vambe  Deputy Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods •  Labour •  Chaucer
Profile image for Councillor Irina Von Wiese
Councillor Irina Von Wiese  Liberal Democrats •  Borough & Bankside
Profile image for CouncillorKath Whittam
Councillor Kath Whittam  (Labour and Co-operative) •  Labour •  Rotherhithe
Profile image for CouncillorKieron Williams
Councillor Kieron Williams  (Labour and Co-operative) Leader of the Council •  Labour •  Camberwell Green
Profile image for Councillor Ian Wingfield
Councillor Ian Wingfield  Labour •  St Giles
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