The Democracy and Standards Committee of West Northamptonshire Council met on Thursday 12 March 2026 to discuss the annual report, the work programme for the upcoming year, and the recruitment of Independent Persons. The meeting also included an update on the ongoing review of the Council's Constitution.

Annual Report of the Democracy and Standards Committee 2025/2026

The committee was scheduled to consider and approve the Annual Report for the 2025/2026 period. This report, as outlined in the Democracy Standards Annual Report 2025-2026, details the committee's work and achievements. Councillor Silas Hays, Chair of the Democracy and Standards Committee, provided a message within the report, highlighting the committee's focus on safeguarding governance arrangements, ensuring transparency in decision-making, and upholding expected standards of conduct for all Members. He emphasised a commitment to leaving party politics aside and focusing on what is best for residents. The report also noted the establishment of a cross-party working group to review elements of the Council's Constitution, aiming for fairness, transparency, and trust. The Nolan Principles – selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty, and leadership – were highlighted as practical guides for conduct, with an additional emphasis on respect. The report also provided an overview of the committee's membership, the functions of Independent Persons, and a summary of the work undertaken between June 2025 and March 2026, including discussions on the Register of Members' Interests, Member Onboarding Programme, and government consultations. A detailed summary of Code of Conduct complaints considered during the year was also included in Appendix A of the report.

Work Programme 2026/2027

The committee was scheduled to agree the Work Programme for the Democracy and Standards Committee for the 2026/2027 municipal year. The draft work programme, available in the work programme March 2026 meeting, outlines planned topics for committee meetings throughout the year. These include updates on the Register of Members' Interests, proposed amendments to the Constitution, and national changes related to ethics and standards. The programme also allocates time for reviewing the Council's Constitution, considering statistics on Code of Conduct arrangements, and receiving updates on Member Development. The annual report for 2026/2027 and the work programme for 2027/2028 are also scheduled for discussion in the latter part of the year.

Recruitment of Independent Persons

A verbal update was scheduled regarding the recruitment of Independent Persons. The report on this matter, titled Appt of Ind Persons, outlines the purpose of these appointments, which is to assist in the consideration of Member Code of Conduct complaints as required by the Localism Act 2011. The report details that West Northamptonshire Council has retained a minimum of four Independent Persons to manage complaints concerning town and parish councillors, as well as to effectively manage potential conflicts of interest. The report notes that the government intends to overhaul the local government standards framework, which is likely to increase the workload associated with complaints. The recommendations within the report proposed the appointment of Kate Williams, Paul Hodson, Michael Turner, and John Peachey as Independent Persons, with varying appointment lengths. The report also detailed the background of each candidate, highlighting their relevant experience.

Update from the Constitution Review Task and Finish Panel

The committee was set to receive a verbal update on the progress of the Constitution Review Task and Finish Panel. This panel has been working on reviewing elements of the Council's Constitution. Previous discussions, as noted in the minutes of the January 2026 meeting, indicated that the Planning Protocol had been revised and that the Council Procedure Rules and Officer employment rules were next in line for review. The report pack for the current meeting also references the ongoing work of this panel in relation to proposed amendments to the Constitution.

Other Scheduled Business

The agenda also included standard procedural items such as apologies for absence, declarations of interest, and the confirmation of minutes from the previous meeting held on 29 January 2026. The Chair's announcements were also to be received. The committee was also scheduled to consider urgent business, if any, and to resolve on the exclusion of the press and public for specific items where exempt information might be disclosed.