Kingston upon Thames' Standards Sub-Committee convened on Tuesday, 30 September 2025, to address a complaint filed against a councillor and to confirm hearing procedures.

The sub-committee, comprised of Councillor Roger Hayes (Vice Chair, in the Chair), Councillor Jamal Chohan (Deputy Leader of the Opposition; Opposition Spokesperson for Leisure and Economic Development), Councillor Lynn Henderson (Chair - Audit, Governance & Standards Committee), and Councillor Mark Beynon (Chair of Planning Committee), met to consider an Independent Investigator's Report regarding a complaint against a councillor. According to the Public Reports Pack, the committee was also scheduled to confirm the procedure for hearings before the Standards Sub-Committee, as detailed in the Schedule to Appendix D of Part 5A Member Code of Conduct of the Council's Constitution.

The agenda included a resolution to potentially exclude the press and public during the complaint consideration, citing Paragraphs 1 and 2 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, which pertain to information relating to individuals and information likely to reveal an individual's identity. The meeting information does not state whether the press and public were ultimately excluded.

The Standards Sub-committee Hearings Procedure Member Code of Conduct 1 April 2025 outlines the process for handling complaints, including a review by the Monitoring Officer and consultation with the Council's Independent Person to determine if an investigation is warranted. If an investigation proceeds, an Investigating Officer gathers evidence and produces a report, seeking input from both the complainant and the member in question.

The procedure also details steps for hearings, including introductions, potential exclusion of the press and public, and a review of the Investigating Officer's report. The sub-committee will determine if the member failed to comply with the Appendix A Member Code of Conduct. If a failure is found, sanctions may be applied. These sanctions could include:

  • Issuing a public censure or reprimand
  • Asking the member to apologise
  • Publishing findings regarding the member's conduct
  • Reporting findings to the Council, including a recommendation that the member be removed from any committee of the Council
  • Recommending removal from any or all committees of the council to the member's Group Leader (or to Council or committees in the case of ungrouped members)
  • Recommending to the Leader of the Council that the member be removed from the Cabinet or removed from particular portfolio responsibilities (if an executive model is in place)
  • Recommending to Council that the member be replaced in any Council appointed roles
  • Instructing the Monitoring Officer to arrange training for the member
  • Recommending to Council removal from all outside appointments to which the member has been appointed or nominated by the authority
  • Withdrawing facilities provided to the member by the Council, such as computer, website and/or internet access
  • Excluding the member from the Council's offices or other premises with the exception of meeting rooms as necessary for attending council and committee meetings