Councillors are set to face a significant overhaul of national standards and conduct regulations, with new legislation expected to introduce a mandatory code of conduct, enhanced disciplinary powers, and a national appeals body.
The proposed reforms aim to create a more consistent and robust framework for councillor conduct across England. The changes are anticipated to be enacted through primary legislation, with a potential timeline of late 2027 at the earliest.
Key proposals include a mandatory national code of conduct, replacing the current system where each local authority develops its own. This new code will cover areas such as discrimination and bullying. The government intends to introduce this through statutory instrument regulations, a move overwhelmingly supported by a consultation, with 94% in favour of a national mandatory code. This is seen as essential for consistency, as approximately 10,500 councils could otherwise have different codes, leading to inconsistencies in how behaviour is judged. The new code will include the seven standards of public life, along with a requirement for members to co-operate with code of conduct investigations. Barking and Dagenham Council, for instance, incorporated such a measure last year.
Principal authorities will be required to maintain formal Standards Committees, and a national body will be established to handle the most serious cases and appeals. The mandatory code is expected to enable caselaw and precedents to be set, ensuring that misbehaviour is consistently addressed across different boroughs.
Significant new disciplinary powers are also on the horizon. Councils will gain the ability to suspend councillors for up to six months for serious breaches of the code, with the option to withhold allowances during suspension for the most serious breaches. Repeat offenders could face disqualification, with disqualification proposed for serious misconduct if a councillor receives a sanction of suspension for six months twice over a five-year period. Interim suspension powers are also proposed for serious allegations, particularly those involving police investigations or where there are safeguarding and safety considerations. Beyond suspension and disqualification, other considered sanctions include premises and facilities bans, either in addition to or as standalone measures. The government also intends to publish all code breach investigation outcomes to enhance transparency.
A Barking and Dagenham Council Standards Committee meeting on February 2, 2026, was informed that the council is well-prepared for these changes, having already established a standalone Standards Committee and a code of conduct based on the seven standards of public life. The council also has a strong track record of members adhering to the code, with no complaints upheld since 2018, as detailed in the Public reports pack Monday 02-Feb-2026 19.00 Standards Committee.
Further details on anticipated changes can be found in the Standards Committee - anticipated changes to come Feb 2026 document. Information regarding complaints updates is available in the Report - Complaints Update.
