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RESOLVED:

1.      This Council notes that:

a)           
Milton Keynes City Council, its members and staff
works in the public interest and is
entrusted with significant responsibility and authority by the
residents it serves.

b)           
All councillors are required to uphold the Nolan
Principles of Public Life, including integrity, accountability,
leadership and respect, which exist to maintain public confidence
in democratic institutions.

c)            
The occasional conduct of some councillors has
raised concern among residents about the tone and standards of
behaviour demonstrated in formal council settings, particularly in
interactions involving members of the public.

d)           
The promotion of high standards in public life is a
shared responsibility of all councillors, supported by the
Standards Committee and statutory officers, and is essential to
maintaining public confidence in the Council’s Code of
Conduct and its democratic processes.

e)           
Senior leadership roles within the Council carry an
enhanced responsibility to model appropriate conduct and set the
standard for others.

2.      This Council believes
that:

a)           
Civility and respectful conduct are not optional or
secondary considerations, but fundamental to effective local
democracy and public trust.

b)           
The way councillors speak to and about members of
the public matters and can either encourage or deter future civic
participation, including the engagement of young people and members
of the Youth Council.

c)            
Apologies are important in acknowledging harm
caused, but maintaining high standards in public life requires
consistent enforcement of expected behaviour across the whole
Council with everyone being treated equally

d)           
If local government is to attract and retain people
of integrity to stand for public office, and to maintain the trust
placed in elected representatives by residents, it must demonstrate
that the principles it promotes are actively upheld in
practice.

e)      Standards in public life
apply not only to how councillors behave in meetings or in direct
interactions with the public, but also to how they communicate with
residents more broadly and inaccuracies in that communication
undermine public trust, damage confidence in democratic
institutions and make it harder for residents to engage
meaningfully in local decision-making.

3.      This Council resolves
to:

a)           
Reaffirm its collective commitment to the Nolan
Principles of Public Life, with explicit emphasis on leadership,
respect and accountability in all interactions with members of the
public.

b)           
Set a clear expectation that all councillors,
regardless of seniority, conduct themselves respectfully in formal
and informal council settings, including meetings, committees,
public forums and consultations, especially when interacting with
members of the public.

c)            
Recognise the particular importance of appropriate
conduct towards young people, and the need to ensure that Council
spaces remain welcoming, safe and inclusive for all who engage in
democratic processes.

d)           
Affirm that any public communications in their
official capacity including leaflets, newsletters, emails, social
media posts and other forms of engagement should be accurate,
evidence based and verifiable facts and information in order to maintain public trust and
confidence.

e)      Request that the
Monitoring Officer and Democratic Services arrange a mandatory
refresher session for all councillors on the Code of Conduct after
local elections take place in May, with specific focus
on:

i)              
Power imbalance and public accountability

ii)            
Managing challenge and disagreement
appropriately

iii)          
Upholding standards in high-pressure or contentious
situations

f)       Commit to promoting
a culture of civility and mutual respect across the Council, so
that Milton Keynes City Council continues to be seen as a body that
leads by example and values public engagement.