Croydon councillors have received training on the code of conduct, as part of ongoing efforts to maintain high ethical standards within the council. The training covered key topics related to member roles and responsibilities.

The code of conduct has been updated to reflect changes in legislation and best practices. These updates, proposed in the review of ethics processes report, include:

  • Updating officer post titles and contact details.
  • Making the references gender neutral.
  • Updating regulator details.
  • Clarifying that a Deputy Monitoring Officer may undertake the Monitoring Officer functions.
  • Making changes to the data protection and privacy sections to comply with changes in the law.
  • Including a new paragraph on conflicts of interest.
  • Reducing the acknowledgement period for complaints to 10 working days.

The Croydon Council Ethics Committee convened on 9 July 2025, to discuss member learning and development, including training on the code of conduct and member responsibilities. This training was delivered in two sessions on 23 and 30 April, with 34 members attending, according to the member learning and development 2024-25 report.

According to the quarterly complaints report first quarter, the Monitoring Officer received four complaints since the last report. Two were withdrawn because they related to officer conduct and were referred to corporate complaints. The complainants for the remaining two have not provided the information needed to assess the complaints.

The council has a formal process for reporting and investigating potential breaches of the code of conduct. Complaints must be submitted in writing, and the council encourages the use of the online complaints form.

Member attendance at all training sessions is recorded and published within each councillor's profile on the council website.

The Member Learning and Development Panel is responsible for developing the annual Members' Training Plan and for receiving reports on progress in delivery of members' learning and development.

The Ethics Committee is responsible for agreeing programmes of advice and training for elected, co-opted and non-elected Members on ethics and probity, and on the Code. The report proposes that the Ethics Committee recommend to Full Council approval for the amendment to the Code of Conduct for Members in relation to disclosure of members' interests.