Camden Council is reviewing its councillor conduct policies after a case at another council highlighted the potential for undue influence via electronic communications. The review also takes into account the Government Consultation on the Standards and Conduct Framework, which proposes strengthening the standards and conduct framework for local authorities in England.

The consultation outlines proposals to:

  • Legislate for a mandatory minimum code of conduct.
  • Require local authorities to maintain a Standards Committee, potentially chaired by an Independent Person, with Independent Persons given voting rights.
  • Require publication of a summary of code of conduct breach allegations and investigation outcomes.
  • Require the completion of investigations where a member stands down.
  • Introduce stronger sanctions for serious breaches of the code of conduct, including the power to suspend elected members, withhold allowances, ban suspended councillors from premises and facilities, and disqualification where suspensions are invoked more than once within a five-year period.
  • Introduce a right of appeal, including to a national appeals body.

The consultation also sought feedback on how to empower victims of, or witnesses to, councillor misconduct.

The Camden Council Standards Committee met on 7 July 2025, to discuss recent updates on standards matters, including a case where a councillor from King's Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council breached conduct rules by emailing a fellow Planning Committee member during a meeting he was absent from. The emails included the message: No deferral. REFUSE IT . The investigation found that the emails could be perceived as attempts to influence decision-making, impacting impartiality, integrity, fairness and transparency. The Panel specified that Councillor Parish had breached the Code of Conduct by failing to respect his fellow committee member and the Planning Committee as a whole.

Andrew Maughan, Borough Solicitor, informed the committee that Camden's Planning Committee had been notified of the case to advise about the potential for perceived influence or pressure via electronic communications during meetings. He suggested that committee members discuss this issue within their groups.

The Standards Committee also reviewed the annual monitoring report on Code of Conduct complaints against members. The report, covering the period from 1 July 2024 to the end of May 2025, indicated that 11 complaints were received, consistent with previous years. None of the complaints required a formal investigation, as the behaviour described would not have constituted a breach of the Code of Conduct.

Examples of issues raised in the 11 complaints included alleged failure to act on issues raised and/or to engage in correspondence, using position to confer advantage, harassment and bullying, inappropriate business dealings, rude and offensive behavior, failure to uphold reasonable adjustments, inappropriate policy proposals, and misleading statements. These did not constitute a breach of the Code of Conduct because they were either not covered by the Code, lacked supporting evidence, the councillor apologized, the complaint was withdrawn, or the councillor was not acting as a councillor in the situation complained about.

The most significant trend among the complaints was an alleged failure to act on issues raised or to engage in correspondence. Maughan stressed the importance of responding to correspondence, and suggested that committee members raise this with their respective groups. He clarified that councillors are not immediately advised of complaints, explaining the process for considering complaints and determining whether an investigation is warranted. Should Members feel they can assist an individual no longer, they should be clear that this is their position and draw the correspondence to a close. Should this not be accepted the Borough Solicitor will and has in the past intervened.

Councillor Sharon Hardwick, Chair of Standards Committee, led a discussion on the Government Consultation on the Standards and Conduct Framework. Councillor Hardwick noted support for the proposal of an Independent Chair for Standards Committee, but Maughan explained that it would not be lawful at present, as Independent Persons were non-voting members of the Committee.

The committee also considered the Standards Information and Guidance Record 7 July 2025, noting that any policies that had not been recently reviewed would be scheduled for consideration at a future meeting, given the importance of regularly reviewing policies. There was also a discussion about declarations of interest, with it being explained that while all relevant interests should be declared, the level of participation depended on how much it affected the councillor as an individual, and that all councillors had a dispensation to participate in setting of council tenancy rents.