Standards
Ready or not?
As a new regulatory regime gets underway for social housing, Peter Hubbard and Claire Ward offer five tips to support public and private sector registered providers.
Leader bullied two senior officers, report finds
A council leader’s behaviour towards two senior officers amounted to bullying, a report into a code of conduct complaint has found.
Future Forum North: Monitoring officers need ‘seat at top table’
More work is needed to bolster the role of the monitoring officer in councils, the MJ Future Forum North has heard.
Mayor failed to intervene following bullying
Details have emerged of a bullying probe at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority that found mayor Nik Johnson breached the organisation’s code of conduct.
Mayor apologises as combined authority 'learns lessons'
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority’s chief executive, Rob Bridge, has said he is ‘confident’ his organisation has ‘learned many lessons’ as mayor Nik Johnson apologised.
Avoiding failure: scanning for risks
In the latest in a series of articles on how to avoid organisational failure, The MJ examines the importance of the three people more likely to identify risk, and what should be on their ‘starter for 10’ agenda.
Auditor calls for national changes after public interest report
External auditor Grant Thornton has called for national changes after cataloguing a ‘toxic’ culture and ‘dysfunctional environment’ at Cheshire East Council.
New bullying policy for criticised council
A council is expected to overhaul its anti-bullying procedures after accusations of officers exerting controlling behaviour over members.
Standards chair challenges government
The Committee on Standards in Public Life (CSPL) has expressed disappointment over Government rejection of its plans.
York reviews elderly care amid watchdog criticism
City of York Council has agreed to review its handling of an elderly care plan for a vulnerable couple after a rebuke from the sector’s ombudsman.
Preparing for the new social housing regulation
Changes to the way social housing is regulated are coming. Local authorities need to get on the front foot, says Kate Dodsworth
Diversionary dodges
Dan Corry looks at whether trying to make people talk about the things you want really works, but concludes that, eventually, you have to just sort out the issues that matter.
Government must rethink its approach to poor governance and behaviour in councils
Solace supports all of the Committee on Standards in Public Life report's recommendations on standards in local government, but without Government action on sanctions this will never gain the traction required, says Graeme McDonald.
Anderson no longer faces Operation Sheridan investigation
Former mayor of Liverpool City Council, Joe Anderson, is no longer under investigation by Lancashire Constabulary – but still faces a Merseyside police inquiry.
The status quo on oversight of councillors' behaviour isn't acceptable
We are concerned by the threats, intimidation and toxic debate that has come to characterise much of our public discourse, yet the Government is shunning an important opportunity to challenge a manifestation of it, says Claire Kober.
The Government’s response on standards is a missed opportunity
The Government’s long-delayed response to the Committee on Standards in Public Life review of local government ethical standards falls short of what is required to improve governance, says Mark Greenburgh.
Scots watchdog castigates Islands over joint board
A Scots watchdog has issued a scathing report, criticising unlawful decision-making and governance issues in the hiring of senior staff at Orkney and Shetland Valuation Joint Board (VJB).
Ministers fail to act on calls to beef up standards
The Government has been accused of ‘willfully looking the other way’ on standards after failing to act on recommendations to beef up sanctions.
EXCLUSIVE: Caller called in for Northumberland review
Local government expert Max Caller has been called in to carry out a corporate governance review of Northumberland CC.
Standards: the search for common ground
John Tizard says collaboration within and between sectors will be crucial to ‘building back better’ – but the principles of governance and behaviour should be universal.