The Governance, Ethics and Standards Committee of Derbyshire County Council met on Thursday 5 March 2026 to discuss the Annual Report of the Independent Remuneration Panel, proposed changes to the Council's Constitution, and a report on complaints received against councillors. The committee resolved to recommend the Independent Remuneration Panel's report to the Council for approval, noted amendments to the Constitution regarding the D2 Strategic Leadership Board, and noted the complaints received against councillors.

Annual Report of the Independent Remuneration Panel

The committee considered the Annual Report of the Independent Remuneration Panel (IRP) for 2026/27, which makes recommendations on member remuneration. The IRP recommended that the Basic Allowance be increased in line with the average pay award for all council staff, while Special Responsibility Allowances (SRAs) should be frozen. The report, presented by Mr Peter Clay, Chair of the IRP, noted that the Basic Allowance increase would be accommodated within existing budgets. The committee resolved to recommend these proposals to the Council for approval.

The IRP's recommendations are made in accordance with the Local Authorities (Members' Allowances) (England) Regulations 2003¹, which require councils to have regard to the panel's advice when setting allowances. The panel's report highlighted that while no agreement had yet been reached on the 2026/27 staff pay award, the Basic Allowance increase would be tied to the average rate of pay increase applied to all staff. For SRAs, the panel recommended a freeze due to the ongoing difficult financial position of the council and the impending Local Government Reorganisation (LGR), which is expected to lead to fewer councillors and different responsibilities in new unitary authorities. The panel suggested that a comprehensive review of SRAs would be necessary before the new councils come into existence in April 2028.

Minor Change to the Constitution: D2 Strategic Leadership Board

The committee noted the inclusion of amended terms of reference for the D2 Strategic Leadership Board (SLB) within the Council's Constitution. These revised terms were approved by Cabinet on 11 September 2025 and reflect changes in the strategic operating environment, focusing on the SLB's primary role, hosting arrangements, and opportunities to enhance forward planning. Helen Barrington, Director of Legal and Democratic Services, explained that the Monitoring Officer had authorised and completed the necessary amendments to the Constitution. These changes will also be reported to the full Council. The amendments are administrative and do not have significant financial implications, aligning with the Council's priority of High Performing Value for Money and Resident Focused Services.

Complaints Received Against Councillors

The committee was informed of Code of Conduct complaints against councillors received between 1 September 2025 and 12 February 2026. Elizabeth Wild, Principal Solicitor, presented a report detailing these complaints. During this period, 12 complaints were received, with 4 treated as withdrawn, 5 determined, and 3 still in progress. The report noted that the number of complaints received has fluctuated over recent years, with 19 received in the current reporting period up to 12 February 2026, compared to 6 in the previous year.

The committee resolved to note the complaints received. The report outlined that the Monitoring Officer carries out an initial assessment of complaints, consulting with the Independent Person to decide whether a formal investigation is warranted. The procedure, established under Section 28(6) of the Localism Act 2011², requires the Governance, Ethics and Standards Committee to be kept informed of these initial assessment decisions to support the Monitoring Officer and promote high standards of conduct.