Lewisham's Standards Committee has appointed members to two new sub-committees tasked with handling hearings and appeals related to complaints under the Members' Code of Conduct. The appointments were confirmed during a meeting held on Monday, July 20, 2026.
The establishment of Standards Sub-Committee A and Standards Sub-Committee B is designed to ensure fairness and prevent conflicts of interest by separating the functions of initial complaint consideration and appeal, adhering to the principles of natural justice.
Standards Sub-Committee A will comprise Councillor Briony Edwards, Councillor Andre Bourne, Councillor Hilary Moore, Councillor Ruth Persian, and Councillor Wellington Gill, alongside co-opted members Cathy Sullivan, David Roper-Newman, and Leslie Thomas.
Standards Sub-Committee B will consist of Councillor Markus Michelucci, Councillor Leni Candan, Councillor Shireen Asaw, Councillor Eva Stamirowski, and Councillor Becky Sanders, with co-opted members Fasil Bhatti, Joy Walton, and Gill Butler.
A key procedural safeguard noted is that any member substituted onto a sub-committee considering a complaint will not be eligible to sit on the sub-committee that hears the appeal for the same case. This separation of functions is intended to prevent bias and ensure a fair hearing.
The meeting was held in accordance with the Localism Act 2011, which promotes high standards of conduct for local councillors. Further details on the meeting proceedings can be found in the Public reports pack 20th Jul 2026.
