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

More grief ahead as reorganisation is plunged into chaos

By Heather Jameson | 11 September 2026

The chaos created by the reorganisation 'pause' as councils battle with their finances, rising pressures on services and residents, and a desperate need to c...

WHITEHALL

EXCLUSIVE: Burnham wish for new settlement with sector

By Dan Peters | 10 September 2026

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has told council leaders he wants to ‘create a new settlement between central and local’.

WHITEHALL

Future Forum Midlands: Civil servants dismiss timetable speculation for LGR review

By Paul Marinko | 10 September 2026

Council chiefs have revealed government officials have refused to give any clarity on when the review of local government reorganisation (LGR) will be comple...

WHITEHALL

Local government reorganisation is a crisis of trust

By Cllr Kevin Bentley | 10 September 2026

Cllr Kevin Bentley says the Government’s approach to reorganisation has damaged finances, trust and confidence within councils.

Popular articles by Laura Sharman

-->