The Ethics Committee of Coventry City Council is scheduled to meet to discuss the local code of corporate governance, abuse in public life, gifts and hospitality, and the code of conduct. The committee will also review its work programme for the coming year.

Local Code of Corporate Governance

The committee is scheduled to consider the Local Code of Corporate Governance 2025/26. The Audit and Procurement Committee is also scheduled to consider the code.

The Local Code of Corporate Governance sets out the council's arrangements for meeting the seven principles of good governance as defined in the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA)/SOLACE Framework 'Delivering Good Governance in Local Government'. The framework recommends that local authorities maintain a local code of governance.

The seven principles of good governance are:

• Behaving with integrity, demonstrating strong commitment to ethical values, and respecting the rule of law
• Ensuring openness and comprehensive stakeholder engagement
• Defining outcomes in terms of sustainable economic, social, and environmental benefits
• Determining the interventions necessary to optimise the achievement of the intended outcomes
• Developing the entities capacity, including the capability of its leadership and the individuals within it
• Managing risks and performance through robust internal control and strong public financial management
• Implementing good practices in transparency, reporting and audit, to deliver effective accountability

The council adopted a Local Code of Corporate Governance in 2017. The code has been reviewed and updated to reflect the current governance arrangements in place within the council.

Local Government Association (LGA) Ending Abuse in Public Life - Council Self-Assessment Tool Kit - Progress September 2025

The Ethics Committee is scheduled to receive an update on the Local Government Association (LGA) Ending Abuse in Public Life - Council Self-Assessment Tool Kit.

In July 2023, the LGA issued a publication called Debate Not Hate: Ending abuse in public life for councillors, which outlines how councils can better support their members to prevent and handle abuse.

Following the Debate Not Hate report, the LGA developed a self-assessment toolkit to support work within councils to address abuse of members. The toolkit acknowledges the distinct roles and responsibilities held by members, councils, and police in addressing instances of abuse and intimidation.

The toolkit is structured around the five principles outlined in the Debate Not Hate report:

1. Creating supportive and informed spaces
2. Creating a risk-led approach
3. Creating an infrastructure
4. Creating new connections
5. Creating a culture of safety and respect

Progress on this work to date has included information provided on the Members intranet webpages in a section called Well-being and your safety , which signposts members to where advice and support can be found.

The Finance and Corporate Services Scrutiny Board have agreed in principle to establish a task and finish group to provide a member-led approach to developing the council's approach to dealing with abuse and intimidation experienced by elected members.

Six Monthly Review of Members' Gifts and Hospitality

The committee is scheduled to review declarations of gifts and hospitality made by councillors between 1 January and 30 June 2025. According to the report pack, one form was received from Councillor Gary Ridley, Leader of the Conservative Group (Leader of the Opposition). Councillor Ridley declared a ticket to Coventry City Football Club vs Middlesborough Football Club match on 3 May 2025, offered by Coventry City Football Club. The estimated cost of attendance in the VIP Lounge was in excess of £250. Councillor Ridley's justification for accepting the hospitality was:

To represent the city at a key local sporting event and build links with other key regional stakeholders.

Six Monthly Review of Officers' Gifts and Hospitality

The committee is scheduled to review declarations of gifts and hospitality made by council officers between 1 January 2025 and 30 June 2025.

According to the report pack, the Chief Executive declared hospitality from the University of Warwick, Rigby Group PLC, Multiverse, UKREiiF/West Midlands Growth Company, Downtown in Business/Bruntwood, UK Gov, Avison Young UK, Turley, Coventry City Football Club, Rainer Developments and Hill Group.

The Principal Project Officer declared hospitality from PMP Consultants Ltd.

The Director of Finance and Resources declared hospitality from the Society of Municipal Treasurers.

The Director of Planning and Performance declared hospitality from Coventry City Football Club and Business 2 Business Ltd.

Code of Conduct Update

The committee is scheduled to receive an update on national issues relating to the ethical behaviour of councillors and the local position in Coventry regarding code of conduct issues.

Nationally, the Committee on Standards in Public Life (CSPL) is set to be replaced by the Ethics and Integrity Commission.

Other updates include:

• A councillor in the London Borough of Hounslow Council was allowed to vote as part of the council's Licensing Panel despite not yet being appointed.
• Ministerial Envoys at London Borough of Tower Hamlets have commended the council for improvements made whilst highlighting some areas of concern.
• A councillor in Wolverhampton City Council was found to have breached the council's code after the Ethics and Governance Sub-Committee concluded that the councillor, in a speech, had falsely claimed to be a Royal Marine.
• The former Mayor of Enfield Council was found to be in breach of their code, resulting in sanctions for the councillor.
• Following an internal audit, it was determined that Bristol City Council had not complied with procurement rules when it contracted a company to deliver a diversity programme.
• Cornwall Council has taken the decision to refer itself to the police following a councillor's breach of their code of conduct.

Locally, the Director of Law and Governance has received one complaint since those last reported. No further action was taken in respect of this complaint as it was determined that the councillor was not acting in their capacity as a councillor when the circumstances which gave rise to a complaint arose.

Ethics Committee Work Programme 2025-2026

The committee is scheduled to review its work programme for the municipal year 2025/26. The work programme includes regular items on:

• Code of Conduct/ Monitoring Officer Update
• Declarations of gifts and hospitality by members and officers
• Annual report to full council
• Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman's Annual Report