The Standards Sub-Committee A of Lewisham Council met on Wednesday, 25 February 2026, to determine a complaint made under the Code of Conduct. The committee decided that neither Mayor Brenda Dakers nor Councillor Kim Powell had breached the Members' Code of Conduct.

Determination of a Complaint under the Code of Conduct

The committee considered an investigation report concerning a complaint made by Rachel Reign against Mayor Brenda Dakers and Councillor Kim Powell. The complaint alleged that Councillor Powell had used her position as a councillor to legitimise and promote the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (UCKG), and that Mayor Dakers had failed to address the matter objectively due to a personal friendship with Councillor Powell.

The investigation found that Councillor Powell's involvement in requesting the UCKG's inclusion in the Lewisham Interfaith Walk was in her capacity as an employee of the UCKG, not as a councillor. The report stated that the Council has no formal representation on the Lewisham Interfaith Steering Group, and therefore decisions about the walk's route and participating organisations were not matters of Council business. Consequently, Councillor Powell's actions in this instance were deemed to be outside the jurisdiction of the Local Government Standards Framework. Regarding wider concerns about Councillor Powell's employment with UCKG, the report noted that councillors are entitled to a private life, and their employment generally does not affect their eligibility to hold office, provided they declare their interests and avoid conflicts.

In relation to Mayor Dakers, the investigation found that she was acting in her official capacity. The report concluded that there was no evidence of a close personal friendship that would constitute a conflict of interest, as her relationship with Councillor Powell was described as a healthy working relationship within a political context. Furthermore, Mayor Dakers does not have a formal role in handling complaints about councillors, and the Council itself had no jurisdiction over Councillor Powell's conduct in this matter. The investigation also found that decisions regarding the Interfaith Walk and the Mayor's Community Award nominations were not controlled or influenced by Mayor Dakers. While Mayor Dakers engaged with the complainant and the Council's Safeguarding Team, and reviewed due diligence processes for awards, the report stated that a failure to offer an apology is a discretionary act and does not engage the Code of Conduct.

Following deliberations, the committee, by a majority, upheld the investigation report's recommendations, determining that no breach of the Members' Code of Conduct had been committed by either Mayor Dakers or Councillor Powell. Councillor Rathbone raised a point regarding a committee member viewing their role as advocating for the complainant, and sought legal guidance. The Chair clarified that committee members' role is to consider the investigation report and evidence presented, not to advocate for any party.