Law or policy

Members' Code of Conduct

10 stories · discussed at 13 council meetings · 15 councils

Councils are addressing a rise in complaints against members and updating policies on declarations of interest and system access.

Merton's Governance Standards and Audit Committee reviewed complaints, mostly social media related, in September 2026. Hammersmith and Fulham councillors gained a policy for overseas system access, approved in September 2026. Kingston upon Thames Council heard in June 2026 that AI-generated complaints are making enforcement more challenging, with 29 complaints received in 2025-26.

Hillingdon Council saw a rise in declarations of interest in 2025, with 16 made by councillors. Tower Hamlets' Standards Advisory Committee reviewed its member conduct strategy in March 2026, focusing on training and a rise in complaints, and planned a Member Induction Programme for 2026. Lewisham Council is investigating several councillors for potential breaches, as reported in November 2025.

Key facts

  1. Hammersmith and Fulham councillors gained a policy for overseas system access in September 2026. Source
  2. Merton Council's Governance Standards and Audit Committee reviewed eight complaints against councillors since September 2025. Source
  3. Kingston upon Thames Council received 29 complaints under the Members' Code of Conduct in 2025-26. Source
  4. Hillingdon Council saw 16 declarations of interest from councillors in 2025. Source
  5. Redbridge Councillor Kabir Mahmud was sanctioned for breaching the code of conduct in September 2025. Source
About this summary

This summary was written automatically from our published stories and the council meeting records they draw on. It describes what councils have discussed and decided; it does not take a view on any decision. Each key fact links to the story it comes from. Updated 30 September 2026. Spotted a mistake? Email community@opencouncil.network.

Latest stories

  1. Hammersmith and Fulham Councillors Gain Policy for Overseas System Access Hammersmith and Fulham councillors will now have a clearer policy for accessing council systems while working abroad, following a decision by the General Purpose Committee. The... Hammersmith and Fulham 17 September 2026
  2. Merton council addresses member conduct complaints Merton Council's Governance Standards and Audit Committee has reviewed a number of complaints against councillors, with the majority of these stemming from the use of social media. Merton 5 September 2026
  3. AI-generated complaints complicate Kingston Council's code of conduct enforcement The increasing use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in generating complaints is making it more challenging for Kingston upon Thames Council to uphold its code of conduct for... Kingston upon Thames 26 June 2026
  4. Tower Hamlets reviews member conduct strategy Tower Hamlets Council's Standards Advisory Committee has reviewed its strategy for member conduct, focusing on enhancing councillor training and addressing a rise in complaints.... Tower Hamlets 14 March 2026
  5. Hillingdon Council Sees Significant Rise in Councillor Declarations of Interest in 2025 Hillingdon Council saw a notable increase in declarations of interest from councillors in 2025, according to a report presented to the Standards Committee. Hillingdon 20 February 2026
  6. Lewisham Council Investigates Councillors for Multiple Code of Conduct Breaches Lewisham Council is investigating several councillors for potential breaches of the Members' Code of Conduct, according to a report presented at the Standards Committee meeting... Lewisham 22 November 2025
  7. Croydon Councillors Declare Gifts and Hospitality; Ethics Committee Reviews Standards and Safety Measures Croydon Mayor Jason Perry has declared gifts and hospitality received with an estimated value of up to £400, according to a report presented at the recent Ethics Committee... Croydon 16 November 2025
  8. Redbridge Councillor Sanctioned for Code of Conduct Breach Redbridge Councillor Kabir Mahmud has been sanctioned for breaching the council's Members' Code of Conduct, following a decision by the Standards (Hearings) Sub-Committee. The... Redbridge 22 September 2025