The Standards and General Purposes Committee of Buckinghamshire Council met on Thursday 23 April 2026 to review the annual report on Member Code of Conduct complaints for the 2025/26 municipal year. The committee discussed the significant increase in complaints received, particularly concerning parish and town councillors, and explored ways to improve transparency, training, and the overall handling of such matters.

Annual Review of Member Code of Conduct Complaints 2025/26

The committee reviewed the annual report on Member Code of Conduct complaints for the 2025/26 municipal year, which detailed a substantial increase in the number of complaints received compared to the previous year. A total of 109 complaints were lodged, with 52 concerning Buckinghamshire Councillors and 57 relating to parish and town councillors. Notably, no breaches of the Code of Conduct were found in any of the cases.

The report highlighted that the most common allegation across all complaints was Respect, cited in 68 instances, followed by Bullying/Harassment (29 complaints) and Disrepute (15 complaints). A significant proportion of complaints, 80% of those against Buckinghamshire Councillors, originated from the public, while 26% of complaints against parish and town councillors came from the public, with a larger percentage (39) originating from fellow councillors.

Several councillors expressed concern about the increase in complaints and the perceived lack of transparency in how they were handled. Councillor Sherrilyn Bateman proposed that the committee should have the ability to spot check a few cases to ensure transparency and accountability. This suggestion sparked a debate among committee members regarding the role of councillors in scrutinising officers' work, potential political bias, and the protection of personal data. Councillor Martin Tett CBE cautioned against members homework checking professional officers, while Councillor Tim Dixon argued for the fundamental role of councillors in scrutinising council matters.

Officers explained that the current process involves initial assessments and stages one and two, with the Monitoring Officer overseeing the process. They noted that many complaints were resolved at the initial assessment stage, and that a formal hearing (stage three) was not required in any case. The report also detailed upcoming government proposals to strengthen the standards and conduct framework for local authorities, which include a mandatory code of conduct, powers to suspend members, and a national appeals function.

The committee discussed the need for enhanced training, particularly for parish and town councillors, with a proposal to request that all parish and town councils undergo Code of Conduct training. Councillor Phil Gomm strongly advocated for mandatory training to ensure an even field across all councillors. The blurring lines between personal and public life, especially concerning social media, were also a key point of discussion, with councillors seeking clarity on when they are acting as a councillor and when as a private individual.

Officers suggested that while direct spot-checking of individual cases by the committee might not be appropriate due to data protection and the existing oversight by the Monitoring Officer, there could be ways to increase transparency. These included providing more detailed information about complaints in reports and developing anonymised case studies for educational purposes. The committee agreed to explore these options further, including inviting the Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Association of Local Councils (BMKALC) to discuss their role in promoting good standards and to provide training.

The committee also noted the work programme for the upcoming year, which includes regular updates on Code of Conduct complaints and an annual report on complaints and the Local Government Ombudsman. The date of the next meeting was provisionally set for 11th June 2026.

The meeting concluded with expressions of gratitude from councillors to the Chair, Vice-Chairman, and officers for their work throughout the year.