Haringey Standards Committee Schedules Review of Planning Protocol for November 2025

Haringey Council's Standards Committee has scheduled a review of its planning protocol for November 2025, it was announced at the committee's meeting on 30 June 2025.

The review is part of the committee's broader work programme, which also includes the Code of Conduct Complaints Monitoring Officer Annual Report and potential changes to the Council Constitution. The committee discussed its work programme and considered suggested areas of work. The committee is expected to discuss changes to the Council Constitution at the meeting on 13 November 2025. The agenda supplement - new items of urgent business includes a report to regularise the appointment of the Vice Chair of the Pensions Committee and Board by recommending to Full Council the deletion of the provision for appointment of the Vice Chair by the Pensions Committee and Board.

At the meeting, chaired by Councillor Ibrahim Ali, the committee also addressed the membership of the Standards Assessment Sub-Committee and the Standards Hearing Sub-Committee. It was suggested and agreed that the membership of these sub-committees should mirror that of the main Standards Committee, citing the need for members' expertise and discretion. It is the role of the Standards Assessment Sub-Committee to consider allegations referred to it by the Monitoring Officer that a member or co-opted member has failed to comply with the Members' Code of Conduct and to determine whether the allegation merits no further investigation and is dismissed, or merits further investigation. The Standards Hearing Sub-Committee conducts hearings into allegations referred for investigation by the Assessment Sub-Committee that a member or co-opted member has failed to comply with the Members' Code of Conduct; to determine whether or not the member or co-opted member did/did not fail to comply with the Members' Code of Conduct; where the Sub-Committee has determined that a member has failed to comply with the Members' Code of Conduct to take such action as it may lawfully take; and to make recommendations to the Council with a view to promoting high standards of conduct amongst members.

The agenda for the 30 June meeting also included routine items such as apologies for absence and declarations of interest, as well as the confirmation of minutes from the previous meeting held on 10 March 2025. The minutes of the 10 March 2025 meeting included discussion of changes to the Constitution regarding the Member Allowance Scheme, Full Council Second Supplementary Questions, Non Voting Co Opted Members Protocol, and Procurement Standing Orders. Key discussion points and decisions from that meeting included:

• Member Allowance Scheme: The committee agreed to changes to the Members' Allowances Scheme and recommended that the Members' Allowances Scheme 2025/26 be adopted by Full Council on 24 March 2025. Discussion points included maintaining the scale of allowances with the Local Government Pay Award, ensuring competitive allowances to attract prospective Councillors, considering the overall finances of the Council, and reminding Members about provisions for Child Care costs.
• Full Council Second Supplementary Questions: The committee recommended changes to CSO 10.7 to Full Council on 24 March 2025, clarifying the process for second supplementary questions. Discussion points included the allocation of questions to Groups and whether question allocation could be allocated on a basis of proportionality.
• Non Voting Co Opted Members Protocol: The committee agreed to the non–voting co-opted Member protocol for implementation and publication on the Council's website. They also agreed to changes to the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules and noted the required changes to the Overview and Scrutiny Protocol. Discussion points included the involvement of the Chair of OSC in the process of appointment of co-opted members and considering potential prejudices of applicants with live cases with the Council.
• Procurement Standing Orders: The committee recommended that the Council adopt the proposed revised Part Four of the Constitution, Section J Contract Procedure Rules. They also noted key amendments including alignment with the Procurement Act 2023, Cabinet approval for procurements exceeding £500,000, centralization of procurements above £25,000, notification of procurement pipelines, formalization of Social Value considerations, and the introduction of contract management and termination provisions. Discussion points included ensuring oversight of contracts under monitoring bodies and a training program aligning with government guidelines.

The Standards Committee is composed of Councillors Barbara Blake, Erdal Dogan (Chair of Audit), Ibrahim Ali (Chair), Scott Emery and Michelle Simmons-Safo. Fiona Alderman, Director of Legal & Governance (Monitoring Officer), Haydee Nunes de Souza, and Ayshe Simsek, Democratic Services and Scrutiny Manager, also attended the meeting. Alderman authorised the report on the committee work programme and the report on the appointment of the Vice Chair of Pensions Committee and Board in the agenda supplement - new items of urgent business. Simsek is the contact for the report on the appointment of the standards assessment and hearing sub-committees and the lead officer for the report on the appointment of the Vice Chair of Pensions Committee and Board in the agenda supplement - new items of urgent business.