Title

WHITEHALL

Ethical standards in local government to be reviewed

A review into how local government is supporting ethical standards is to be conducted by the Committee on Standards in Public Life.

A review into how local government is supporting ethical standards is to be conducted by the Committee on Standards in Public Life.

The committee has called for evidence on how effective councils' standards arrangements are in light of changes over the past 10 years.

Committee member, Dr Jane Martin, said: ‘The committee considers it is timely to undertake a health check of local government so the public can have confidence that the standards arrangements supporting local democracy are working effectively.

Ms Martin, who will lead the review, added: ‘We are interested in how local authorities have designed their complaints handling, scrutiny and sanctions regimes in order to maintain excellent ethical standards, and how members, local government officials and the public experience them.

‘The committee would like to hear from councils and individuals who can help us understand how ethical standards issues are dealt with by local authorities.'

The committee is due to publish its findings and recommendations later this year.

WHITEHALL

APSE's annual polling generates good and bad news for councils

By Mo Baines | 11 December 2025

Highlights from APSE’s major annual Survation poll has found a divergence of views amongst the public and councillors on asylum accommodation and unwelcome ...

WHITEHALL

EXCLUSIVE: Local government outcomes framework to be expanded

By EXCLUSIVE by Dan Peters | 11 December 2025

Whitehall plan to broaden outcomes framework revealed.

WHITEHALL

Lords committee urges Government to hand council BSR responsibility

By Paul Marinko | 11 December 2025

The Government has been urged to hand some Building Safety Regulator (BSR) responsibilities to councils as ministers admitted 67% of applications to the body...

WHITEHALL

Tackling the debt tightrope

By Emily Whitford | 11 December 2025

Council tax arrears have continued to rise, says Emily Whitford. She argues that it’s time for a more modern system that delivers better outcomes and reduces...

Popular articles by Laura Sharman