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

EXCLUSIVE: Counties to take concerns to top

By EXCLUSIVE by Dan Peters and Joe Lepper | 28 May 2026

The County Councils Network (CCN) was this week preparing to take its concerns about local government reorganisation direct to Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

WHITEHALL

Supporting local leaders after a tumultuous election

By Sean Harriss | 27 May 2026

Sean Harriss looks at how senior council officers can best support an influx of thousands of newly-elected and inexperienced politicians.

WHITEHALL

Local authorities are central to building the places where people live, work and socialise

By Louise Gittins | 27 May 2026

UKREiiF became a platform for demonstrating how a solid partnership between local government and the private sector is the cornerstone of inclusive growth, s...

WHITEHALL

Managing councils without a majority

By Colin Mellors | 27 May 2026

Officials in councils with no overall political control will need to use high levels of political nous, personal acumen, trust and brokering skills over the ...

Popular articles by Laura Sharman