Ealing Council has recently updated its ethical framework for councillors, alongside revisions to financial regulations, contract rules, officer employment rules, and members' allowances. These updates are part of a broader review of the council's constitution, ensuring it remains efficient, transparent, and accountable.

The council's constitution, which was reviewed on Wednesday, 16 July 2025, serves as the foundation for how the council operates, makes decisions, and follows procedures. The Monitoring Officer will monitor and review the operation of the constitution to ensure that the aims and principles of the constitution are given full effect. Further reviews will be triggered to ensure the constitution's aims are realised, as outlined in Chapter 1 - Introduction.

The constitution is divided into chapters, each addressing a specific aspect of the council's functions. These chapters include:

  • Introduction: Outlines citizen rights and council operations.
  • The Council: Details the full council's role and procedures.
  • The Executive: Covers the Leader, Cabinet, and their responsibilities.
  • Scrutiny: Explains the overview and scrutiny committee's functions.
  • Committees: Lists council committees and their terms of reference.
  • Access to Information: Contains rules for accessing council information.
  • Ethical Governance: Includes codes of conduct for members and protocols.
  • Delegations: Outlines the scheme of delegations to officers.
  • Finance and Contract Rules: Contains financial and contract procedure rules.
  • Officer Employment Rules: Details officer employment procedures.
  • Members Allowances Scheme: Outlines the members' allowances scheme.

The updates to the ethical framework, specifically the code of conduct for members as detailed in Chapter 7 - Ethical Governance, require councillors to:

  • Act with selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty, and leadership.
  • Maintain high standards of conduct.
  • Treat others with respect.
  • Not bully or intimidate.
  • Not disclose confidential information.
  • Not use their position improperly to gain an advantage.
  • Take account of advice from the council's chief finance officer and director of legal and democratic services.
  • Participate in training.

The updated financial regulations, as detailed in Chapter 9 - Financial Procedure Rules, are intended to ensure compliance with statutory provisions, accounting principles, and professional practices. They cover financial management roles, planning, risk management, resource control, income, expenditure, and external arrangements.

Chapter 9 - Contract Procedure Rules now includes rules intended to ensure openness, integrity, and accountability in the procurement process, covering procurements of all sizes, tender awards, contract management, and exceptions.

Chapter 10 - Officer employment rules now includes officer employment procedure rules, covering recruitment, disciplinary action, and dismissal procedures.

Chapter 11 - Members Allowances Scheme now includes the members' allowances scheme, covering basic allowances, special responsibility allowances, travel, carers', and subsistence allowances, as well as approved duties and payment procedures.