The Standards Committee of Cornwall Council is scheduled to convene on Thursday 30 April 2026. The meeting's agenda includes a review of organisational and ethical standards complaints from the past year, an update on efforts to reduce complaints related to the Inclusion & SEND Service, and discussions on appointments to the committee itself. Additionally, the committee will consider its annual report and a review of mandatory training requirements for councillors.

Organisational Complaints Report - Quarter 3 - 2025-2026

The committee is scheduled to receive 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 provide an overview of how complaints have been handled, highlighting performance against satisfaction measures and outlining lessons learned. The committee will consider the information presented and determine if any further actions or analysis are required.

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

An update is scheduled regarding the work of the Standards Committee Working Group, which has been focused on reducing the number of LGSCO complaints received by the Inclusion & SEND Service. The report will provide an overview of actions taken within the service to mitigate complaints, the impact of the budget process on this work, and recent complaint performance. It is noted that complaint performance has improved, with a backlog of Step 1 complaints resolved and more complaints being addressed within agreed timescales. This is attributed to increased resilience in the feedback team, an improved relationship with the Inclusion & SEND service, and additional capacity for early resolution of issues, contributing to a SEND Tribunal appeal rate that is a third lower than the national average.

Ethical Standards Complaints Report - Quarter 4 - 2025-2026

The committee is set to review the Ethical Standards Complaints Report for the fourth quarter of the 2025-2026 financial year. This report details the number of ethical standards complaints received and processed by the council. For this quarter, 37 complaints were received, a slight decrease from the 40 received in the same quarter of the previous year. However, the total number of complaints received throughout the year has increased to 180, compared to 127 in 2024-2025. The report will also break down the complaints by the type of councillor involved (Cornwall Councillors versus Town and Parish Councillors) and by the specific paragraphs of the Code of Conduct that were allegedly breached. The committee will consider if any further actions or analysis are required.

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

The committee is scheduled to discuss the appointment of co-opted members to the Standards Committee and the appointment of Independent Persons. Following a recruitment process, it is recommended that Councillor J Peggs be appointed as a Town and Parish Representative to the Standards Committee. Furthermore, it is proposed to increase the complement of Independent Persons from three to four, with Mr R Engerly and Dr E Myatt recommended for appointment. This increase is intended to provide greater resilience given the rising number of complaints and to ensure sufficient capacity for future changes to the ethical standards regime.

Annual Report 2025-2026

The committee will consider the Annual Report for the period 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026. This report is a requirement of the council and provides an overview of the key work undertaken by the Standards Committee during the year. The report details the committee's composition, a summary of ethical standards complaints received, the role of Independent Persons, and reviews of the Code of Conduct and complaint procedures. It also covers government consultations on changes to the ethical standards regime, training initiatives, and the committee's oversight of complaints made to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO). The committee will recommend the report to the Council for approval, subject to any amendments.

Mandatory Training

A report on mandatory training for councillors is scheduled for discussion. This follows changes to the Code of Conduct, making the failure to complete mandatory training a breach of the Code. The report will outline the implementation of these changes, the challenges encountered with online training access, and the significant effort involved for both members and officers. It will also detail a recent decision by the Constitution and Governance Committee to remove the mandatory e-learning requirement from the Member Development Strategy, advising that training is only essential for legal reasons. The implications of this decision for the Code of Conduct and assessment procedures are yet to be determined and will be subject to further reports.

Organisational Complaints Report - Quarter 3 - 2025-2026

The committee is scheduled to receive 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 provide an overview of how complaints have been handled, highlighting performance against satisfaction measures and outlining lessons learned. The committee will consider the information presented and determine if any further actions or analysis are required.

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

An update is scheduled regarding the work of the Standards Committee Working Group, which has been focused on reducing the number of LGSCO complaints received by the Inclusion & SEND Service. The report will provide an overview of actions taken within the service to mitigate complaints, the impact of the budget process on this work, and recent complaint performance. It is noted that complaint performance has improved, with a backlog of Step 1 complaints resolved and more complaints being addressed within agreed timescales. This is attributed to increased resilience in the feedback team, an improved relationship with the Inclusion & SEND service, and additional capacity for early resolution of issues, contributing to a SEND Tribunal appeal rate that is a third lower than the national average.

Ethical Standards Complaints Report - Quarter 4 - 2025-2026

The committee is set to review the Ethical Standards Complaints Report for the fourth quarter of the 2025-2026 financial year. This report details the number of ethical standards complaints received and processed by the council. For this quarter, 37 complaints were received, a slight decrease from the 40 received in the same quarter of the previous year. However, the total number of complaints received throughout the year has increased to 180, compared to 127 in 2024-2025. The report will also break down the complaints by the type of councillor involved (Cornwall Councillors versus Town and Parish Councillors) and by the specific paragraphs of the Code of Conduct that were allegedly breached. The committee will consider if any further actions or analysis are required.

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

The committee is scheduled to discuss the appointment of co-opted members to the Standards Committee and the appointment of Independent Persons. Following a recruitment process, it is recommended that Councillor J Peggs be appointed as a Town and Parish Representative to the Standards Committee. Furthermore, it is proposed to increase the complement of Independent Persons from three to four, with Mr R Engerly and Dr E Myatt recommended for appointment. This increase is intended to provide greater resilience given the rising number of complaints and to ensure sufficient capacity for future changes to the ethical standards regime.

Annual Report 2025-2026

The committee will consider the Annual Report for the period 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026. This report is a requirement of the council and provides an overview of the key work undertaken by the Standards Committee during the year. The report details the committee's composition, a summary of ethical standards complaints received, the role of Independent Persons, and reviews of the Code of Conduct and complaint procedures. It also covers government consultations on changes to the ethical standards regime, training initiatives, and the committee's oversight of complaints made to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO). The committee will recommend the report to the Council for approval, subject to any amendments.

Mandatory Training

A report on mandatory training for councillors is scheduled for discussion. This follows changes to the Code of Conduct, making the failure to complete mandatory training a breach of the Code. The report will outline the implementation of these changes, the challenges encountered with online training access, and the significant effort involved for both members and officers. It will also detail a recent decision by the Constitution and Governance Committee to remove the mandatory e-learning requirement from the Member Development Strategy, advising that training is only essential for legal reasons. The implications of this decision for the Code of Conduct and assessment procedures are yet to be determined and will be subject to further reports.

Any Other Business which the Chairman Considers of Urgency

The agenda allows for any other business that the Chairman deems urgent to be raised and discussed.