The Standards Committee of Wokingham Council met on Tuesday 10 March 2026 to review the year's activities and consider an update on code of conduct complaints. The committee noted that the number of complaints remained low, with only one finding of a breach during the 2025/26 municipal year.

Update on Code of Conduct Complaints

The committee received an update on complaints made against councillors regarding breaches of the Code of Conduct. The report detailed that five new complaints had been received since the previous meeting on 28 October 2025. Of these, two related to Town and Parish Councillors. The report indicated that one complaint received in the 2025/26 year had concluded in a breach of the Code of Conduct, relating to Councillor Turtle of Wokingham Without Parish Council. No specific new trends in complaints were identified.

The update also covered an outstanding historic complaint (WBC 17) which had been considered by a Hearing Panel on 15 September 2025 and 12 January 2026. The panel concluded that Councillor Munro had breached the Code of Conduct for actions at a Planning Committee meeting in January 2024. A decision notice was published on the Council's website and reported to the Council meeting on 22 January 2026.

The committee was informed that the process for handling complaints involves an initial assessment by the Monitoring Officer, Andrew Moulton, who, in consultation with an Independent Person, can decide to take no action, resolve the matter informally (e.g., through mediation, apology, or training), or require a formal investigation. Complaints can also be referred to the Standards Committee for a decision.

The report also included appendices detailing all complaints received in the 2025/26 period and the outstanding historic complaint. For the 2025/26 period, 11 complaints resulted in no action, one led to a finding of a breach, and one was ongoing. This was noted as being similar to the previous year, where 12 complaints were received and only one resulted in a breach.

Annual Report 2025/26

The committee considered its Annual Report for 2025/26, which was prepared for submission to the Wokingham Borough Council's Full Council meeting. The report highlights the committee's role in promoting and maintaining the highest standards of conduct among elected members of the Borough, Town, and Parish Councils. It emphasises that high standards of behaviour are crucial for building public trust and confidence in local government.

The report references the seven Nolan Principles of Public Life – selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty, and leadership – as the foundation for ethical standards expected of public office holders. The Wokingham Borough Council's Code of Conduct is based on these principles.

During the 2025/26 municipal year, 13 Code of Conduct complaints were received: 9 concerning Borough Members and 4 concerning Town and Parish Council Members. The report notes that no action was taken in 11 cases, one resulted in a finding of a breach, and one was recently received and not yet concluded. This volume of complaints was considered relatively low, especially given the total number of elected members across the borough.

The annual report also details the committee's consideration of national initiatives and campaigns, including the LGA's Debate Not Hate campaign, which aims to challenge abuse and intimidation faced by local politicians. The report outlines key challenges identified in supporting councillors dealing with such issues, the need for clear reporting processes, and the uneven engagement from the police. It also references recommendations from the Jo Cox Civility Commission, which include improving risk planning for council meetings, involving the police where appropriate, and providing security and wellbeing resources for elected members.

The committee also reviewed the LGA Model Code of Conduct, which serves as a template for local councils. Wokingham Borough Council adopted the LGA Model Code with variations proposed by the Standards Committee. The committee stated its intention to continue improving the Code of Conduct and supporting procedures, commission further training, and ensure that complaints are investigated robustly and fairly.

The committee membership for 2025/26 included Wokingham Borough Council Representatives: Beth Rowland (Chair), Caroline Smith (Vice-Chair), Sam Akhtar, Melanie De Jong, Rebecca Margetts, Nagi Nagella, and Rachelle Shepherd-DuBey. Town and Parish Council Representatives were Sally Gurney (Wokingham Town Council), Jackie Jagger (Twyford Parish Council), and Sheena Matthews (Earley Town Council). The committee is supported by Andrew Moulton (Monitoring Officer), Neil Allen (Deputy Monitoring Officer), and Neil Carr (Democratic and Electoral Services Specialist). Three Independent Persons – Paddy Haycocks, Jan Cameron, and Teri Ellison – also provided an independent perspective.