The Standards Committee of Cornwall Council was scheduled to discuss a range of matters concerning ethical standards and complaints handling. Key topics included reports on organisational and ethical standards complaints, an update on the Inclusion & SEND Service's handling of LGSCO complaints, and the appointment of new co-opted members and independent persons. The committee was also set to review its annual report for 2025-2026 and consider mandatory training requirements for councillors.

Organisational Complaints Report - Quarter 3 - 2025-2026

The committee was scheduled to review the Organisational Complaints Report for the third quarter of the 2025-2026 financial year. This report details trends in Step 1, Step 2, and Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) complaints received by the council. The report aims to ensure customer confidence by being transparent about how feedback and concerns are handled, and it highlights performance against satisfaction measures and provides narratives for LGSCO complaints and decisions. The report noted that for Quarter 3, 2025-2026, 41 complaints were made to the LGSCO, with 12 of these resulting in a finding of fault. Symbolic payments totalling £13,600 were made during this period.

Update from the Standards Committee Working Group: Inclusion & SEND Service LGSCO Complaints

An update was scheduled regarding the work of the Standards Committee Working Group focused on reducing Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) complaints received by the Inclusion & SEND service. The report was to provide an update on actions within the service to mitigate complaints, the impact of the budget process, and recent complaints performance. It was noted that complaints performance had improved, with the backlog of Step 1 complaints resolved and more complaints being dealt with on time. This was attributed to improved resilience in the feedback team, a better relationship with the Inclusion & SEND service, and additional capacity for early resolution. The report highlighted that Cornwall's SEND Tribunal appeal rate was 2.3%, significantly lower than the national average of 3.2%, with a majority of appeals resolved without a formal hearing. The report also detailed the restructuring of the Inclusion & SEND Service, including the introduction of SEND System Navigators and a SEND Resolutions and Solutions Officer, aimed at providing better support and avoiding escalation to formal complaints or tribunals.

Ethical Standards Complaints Report - Quarter 4 - 2025-2026

The committee was to receive the Ethical Standards Complaints Report for the fourth quarter of the 2025-2026 financial year. This report provides details of ethical standards complaints received and processed by the council. For Q4 2025-2026, 37 complaints were received, a slight decrease from the 40 received in Q4 2024-2025. However, the total number of complaints for the year 2025-2026 reached 180, an increase from 127 in the previous year. The report indicated that 49% of Q4 complaints related to Cornwall Councillors and 51% to Town and Parish Councillors. The most frequently breached paragraphs of the Code of Conduct were related to treating others with respect (2.1), maintaining high standards of conduct (2.5), and bringing one's office into disrepute (2.10). The report also detailed the outcomes of complaint assessments, with 15 complaints rejected, 20 not processed/withdrawn/ongoing, and one processed complaint found to be a breach of the Code.

Appointment of Co-Opted Members to the Standards Committee and Appointment of Independent Persons

The committee was scheduled to consider recommendations for the appointment of new members to the Standards Committee and Independent Persons. Following resignations, there were vacancies for a Town and Parish Representative on the Standards Committee and for Independent Persons. A recruitment process had been undertaken, and recommendations were to be made to the Council for the appointment of Councillor J Peggs as a Town and Parish Representative. Additionally, it was recommended that the complement for Independent Persons be increased from three to four, with Mr R Engerly and Dr E Myatt proposed for appointment as Independent Persons. This increase was deemed necessary due to the rise in the number of ethical standards complaints received.

Annual Report 2025-2026

The committee was to review and potentially recommend the Annual Report of the Standards Committee for the period 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026 to the Council for approval. This report summarises the key work undertaken by the committee during the year, including its oversight of ethical standards complaints, LGSCO complaints, and its role in promoting and maintaining high standards of conduct. The report highlights the increase in formal ethical standards complaints received during the year, reaching 180, and discusses the challenges and strategies employed to manage these. It also touches upon the government's proposed changes to the ethical standards regime, which aim to strengthen sanctions for breaches of the Code of Conduct.

Mandatory Training

The committee was to receive an update on mandatory training for councillors. Following a recommendation from the Constitution and Governance Committee, changes were made to the Code of Conduct making the failure to complete mandatory training a breach of the Code. This report was to detail the implementation of this requirement, the challenges encountered with online access, and the subsequent decision by the Constitution and Governance Committee to remove the mandatory e-learning requirement from the Member Development Strategy. The report was to outline the implications of this decision for the Code of Conduct and assessment procedures, with further reports to follow.