West Lancashire Council's Standards Committee is scheduled to meet on Tuesday, 30 September 2025, to discuss its annual report, complaints statistics, and member declarations of interest. The committee will also look at its work programme for the coming year.

Members Declaration of Interests

The committee is scheduled to consider a report about Member's Declaration of Interest forms. The report recommends that the committee approve an additional requirement for all members, co-opted members, and Parish and Town Councillors to complete a Declaration of Interest Form in certain circumstances. These circumstances are:

• Within 28 days of taking office.
• Within 28 days of becoming aware of a new interest.
• Within 28 days of any meeting where a relevant interest arises and has not previously been declared.
• Within 28 days of beginning eight consecutive years in office as a Councillor/Parish/Town Councillor.

The report states that Internal Audit undertook a general audit of Member's Allowances on 23 October 2024, which generated a substantial assurance opinion, but with an advisory recommendation that the council implement the additional requirement to complete a fresh Declaration of Interest Form after serving as a Councillor for over eight years. The report argues that taking this step would give further reassurance and protection to Members in ensuring compliance.

The report also summarises the obligations of members to declare interests under Section 29 of the Localism Act 2011¹.

Members are required to register their interests so that the public, local authority employees and fellow councillors know which interests might give rise to a conflict of interest. The register is a public document that can be consulted when (or before) an issue arises. The register also protects Councillors by allowing them to demonstrate openness and a willingness to be held accountable.

Standards Committee Annual Report 2024/25

The committee is scheduled to review its annual report for 2024/25. The report provides details of the work undertaken by the committee during the year. According to the report, the main role of the Standards Committee is to promote and maintain high standards of conduct throughout the authority and create a sense of 'ethical well-being'. The Standards Committee and the Monitoring Officer are at the heart of the standards framework, and they promote, educate and support Councillors and Co-opted Members within West Lancashire in following the highest standards of conduct.

The report also mentions that on 30 January 2019, the Committee on Standards in Public Life published its national report on local government ethical standards. The Standards Committee has continued to review the recommendations of the Report, considered the LGA Model Code of Conduct and supporting guidance and on the 23 February 2022 formally adopted a revised Code of Conduct and guidance document.

The report outlines the roles and functions of the Standards Committee, which include:

• Promoting and maintaining high standards of conduct by councillors and co-opted members.
• Assisting Councillors and co-opted members to observe the Members' Code of Conduct.
• Advising the Council on the adoption or revision of the Members' Code of Conduct.
• Monitoring the operation and effectiveness of the Members' Code of Conduct.
• Advising, training or arranging to train Councillors and co-opted members on matters relating to the Members' Code of Conduct.
• Granting dispensations to Councillors and co-opted members from requirements relating to interests set out in the Members' Code of Conduct.
• Dealing with any reports from the monitoring officer on any matter which is referred to the monitoring officer.
• Approving and reviewing procedures for the initial assessment of alleged breaches of the Codes of Conduct for Members.
• Approving and reviewing procedures for the investigation of and subsequent report on, alleged breaches of the Codes of Conduct for Members.
• The exercise of the above in relation to the parish councils wholly or mainly in its area and the members of those parish councils.
• Advising the Council on the adoption and subsequent review of a Code of Conduct for officers.
• Advising, training or arranging to train officers on matters relating to the Code of Conduct for officers.
• Advising the Council on the adoption and subsequent review of the Council's Whistleblowing Code.

The report also notes that the Localism Act 2011 introduced a requirement to appoint an 'Independent Person' (IP). The role of the IP is to be consulted on alleged breaches of the Code of Conduct.

Complaints Statistics

The committee is scheduled to discuss a report providing statistical information on standards complaints received between 17 September 2024 and 30 September 2025. According to the report, the council received two formal complaints during this period. One complaint was received in March 2025 from a member of the public regarding two West Lancashire Borough Council (WLBC) Councillors, and the other was received from a WLBC Councillor regarding another WLBC Councillor. Both complaints are being considered by an Independent Solicitor. However, the processing of these complaints has been delayed due to procurement issues resulting from the introduction of the new Procurement Act.

Work Program

The committee is scheduled to note its work program and consider any items for inclusion. The work program includes:

• Complaints Statistics
• Standards Committee – Annual Report 2024 - 2025
• Induction Training session for newly elected Councillors
• Officer Code of Conduct
• Code of Conduct Seminar for Officers, Borough and Parish Councillors
• Independent Person Protocol
• General dispensation to all Councillors
• Consideration of ad hoc applications for dispensations
• Members Code of Conduct
• Whistleblowing Code
• Appointment of New Parish/Town Co Opted Member/s
• Lessons to be learned from reported complaints/monitoring of compliance with the Code
• New/Revised Protocols
• Hearings and Investigations
• Intimidation in Public Life
• Appointment of Independent Persons