Report to:

Standards Committee

 

Date of meeting:

 

18 February 2025

By:

Deputy Chief Executive

 

Title:

Consultation response on Strengthening the standards and conduct framework for local authorities in England

Purpose:

To consider the draft response to the Government consultation on strengthening the standards and conduct framework for local authorities in England.

 

 

RECOMMENDATION:

 

The Committee is recommended to consider and comment on the draft response to the Government consultation on strengthening the standards and conduct framework for local authorities in England.


 

1             Background Information

 

1.1          The Government is consulting on strengthening the standards and conduct framework for local authorities in England. The consultation asks for views on introducing measures that aim to ensure consistency of approach amongst councils investigating serious breaches of their member codes of conduct, including the introduction of the power of suspension. In addition, the consultation seeks views on how to empower victims affected by councillor misconduct to come forward and what additional support would be appropriate to consider.

 

1.2          The consultation is seeking the views of local authorities, as well as individual members of the

public, and prospective and current local authority members who can respond on an individual basis if they wish.   The consultation opened on 18 December and closes on 26 February.  

 

1.3          A table which sets out draft responses to the questions in the consultation for the Committee to discuss is attached at appendix 1, with a copy of the Government’s consultation document is attached at appendix 2.


2.        
Conclusion

 

2.1       The Committee is recommended to consider and comment on the draft consultation response attached at appendix 1.

 

PHILIP BAKER

Deputy Chief Executive

Contact Officer: Georgina Seligmann
Tel. No. 01273 482355
Email: georgina.seligmann@eastsussex.gov.uk