Standards
Pressure grows for tougher sanctions on councillors
Thousands have signed a petition for disqualifications and suspensions as the Government prepares a consultation on the issue.
Liverpool puts forward improvement plan
Liverpool City Council has drafted an improvement plan and letter in response to the Caller report, which called for an intervention in the city.
Getting the basics right on standards
Joanne Roney says it is ‘high time’ the Government responded to the recommendations in the 2019 Committee for Standards in Public Life’s report on ethical standards in local government.
The case for virtual meetings
Jackie Weaver – star of Handforth Parish Council’s viral meeting – argues the case for stepping out of the dark ages and allowing councils to hold their meetings online.
Jenrick steps in at 'dysfunctional' Liverpool
Commissioners will be sent in to Liverpool City Council after an independent inquiry found serious mismanagement and a dysfunctional culture, communities secretary Robert Jenrick has told Parliament.
LGA code of conduct 'unlikely to gain traction'
The Local Government Association’s model code of conduct is ‘unlikely to gain any traction across the sector’ because of the lack of sanctions breaches attract, council chief executives have warned Whitehall.
Failing to act on audit invites intervention, says Whiteman
A failure to act on the Redmond review could lead to more Government intervention, finance chief Rob Whiteman has told MPs.
Fresh calls for standards code sanctions
Fresh calls for meaningful sanctions on badly behaving councillors were made this week after the Local Government Association (LGA) unanimously approved a model code of conduct.
Calling a halt to sinking standards
It is two years since the Committee for Standards in Public Life (CSPL) published its report, Local Government Ethical Standards. But the Government ‘has yet to respond or seemingly start work on implementing recommendations’, says Graeme McDonald.
Liverpool mayor steps down amid police probe
Liverpool City Mayor Joe Anderson has stepped down from his post following his arrest last week.
MHCLG demands updates after Liverpool mayor arrest
Government officials have written to the chief executive of Liverpool City Council demanding updates on its governance after the arrest of the city’s mayor last week.
Liverpool mayor believed to be one of five arrested in police investigation
Liverpool City Council Mayor Joe Anderson is believed to be one of five people arrested as part of an ‘ongoing investigation’, local newspaper reports have claimed.
Solace president steps down as South Tyneside chief
Solace president Martin Swales has stepped down as chief executive of South Tyneside Council, after ten years in post.
The LGA ‘can and should do better’ on standards
The Local Government Association’s draft member code of conduct does not include an independent mechanism for holding councillors to account, says Donald Graham.
LGA code of conduct under fire
A model code of conduct for councillors put forward by the Local Government Association (LGA) lacks teeth, according to bodies representing officers.
Committee bemoans 18-month delay to report response
The Committee on Standards in Public Life has scolded ministers for taking 18 months to respond to its report on ethical standards in local government.
Officer complaints process 'counts for nothing', says ALACE
The new regime created to sort out allegations against senior council officers has been shown to ‘count for nothing,’ the trade union representing chief executives has claimed.
South Ribble chief executive resigns
South Ribble BC’s chief executive has resigned after a year on ‘special leave’.
Make councils account for extreme investments
Local government needs a new way to hold councils to account when they are making ‘extreme’ investments, finance expert Rob Whiteman has claimed.
Who watches the watchers?
Donald Graham reviews the recent history of local government standards and concludes two-tier and combined authority regions would give local independent panels some traction.
