The Members' Code of Conduct Committee of Bexley Council met on Tuesday 31 March 2026 to discuss updates on complaints received under the Members' Code of Conduct and to consider the extension of the term of office for Independent Persons. The committee agreed to recommend the extension of the term of office for Independent Persons until May 2027.

Updates on Complaints under the Members' Code of Conduct

The Deputy Monitoring Officer, Donna Frost, provided an update on complaints received under the Members' Code of Conduct during the municipal year 2025-26. A total of six complaints were received. Two of these concluded with apologies from the subject members and did not require further investigation. One complaint was not upheld as it did not pass the public interest test. Another complaint was referred to the Independent Person because the subject member was not agreeable to providing an informal resolution apology. The remaining two complaints were in the initial assessment stage.

Regarding gifts and hospitality, no notifications of gifts exceeding £100 were received by any Member during the period.

The committee was also updated on the Government's consultation, Strengthening the Standards and Conduct Framework for Local Authorities in England. The government has confirmed its intention to introduce a more consistent conduct system for local authorities, but no legislative changes or implementation timetable have been published yet. Councillor Read inquired about the definition of a 'serious breach,' and Ms Frost explained it is not specifically defined and is subjective to the complaint. Councillor Mrs Slaughter MBE raised concerns about the time taken to resolve a complaint from August 2025, to which Ms Frost responded that the subject member had been unwell, making it inappropriate to investigate sooner. Councillor Gower MBE expressed concern that a member was not agreeable to an apology, especially with local elections approaching. Ms Frost indicated that the Independent Person believed there was a breach and a full investigation might be necessary.

The committee also discussed the upcoming local elections and the need for training on the Members' Code of Conduct. Louise Peek, Members Services Manager, has developed an induction programme for new members, and Ms Frost offered to roll out separate training for all members.

Extension of Term of Office for Independent Persons

The committee considered a report recommending the extension of the term of office for the Independent Persons, Ms Carol Reid and Mr Rob Lomas, until May 2027. Their current terms were due to end at the Annual Meeting of the Council on 27 May 2026. Due to the local elections on 7 May 2026 and the recent departure of the Monitoring Officer, extending the term of the Independent Persons was deemed necessary. Both Ms Reid and Mr Lomas have agreed to extend their service. The committee agreed to recommend this extension to Full Council for agreement.

The Localism Act 2011 requires councils to appoint at least one Independent Person to the standards committee. The report confirmed that both candidates meet the legal requirements, having no conflicts of interest with the council.

Date of Next Meeting

Councillor Gower MBE informed the committee that the provisional date for the next meeting is Wednesday, 23 September 2026, which will be confirmed after Full Council in April.