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.