The Standards Committee of Devon Council met on Thursday, 19 March 2026, to discuss ethical governance, future agenda items, complaints, and the annual report. Key decisions included the incorporation of national updates and topical issues into future agendas and the noting of a report on the monitoring of the ethical governance framework.

Ethical Governance Framework Monitoring

The Committee received a report summarising feedback from co-opted members who had attended various council meetings, including the Cabinet and Full Council budget meeting. The feedback was generally positive, with good ratings for conduct, language, debate quality, and officer advice. No concerns were raised regarding breaches of the Members' Code of Conduct. However, the report highlighted recurring practical issues with microphone functionality and clarity in some meeting rooms.

A thorough discussion ensued regarding suggestions for clearer standing orders, the necessity of breaks during extended meetings, microphone and audio issues, and the need for additional training in chairing skills, meeting procedures, and standing orders. The process for sharing independent observations with chairs and vice-chairs, and the handling of council motions were also discussed. It was clarified that minutes are not verbatim records but accurately note decisions, and that most council and committee meetings are recorded and livestreamed. The report was noted, with a suggestion to review the current house style of minutes referred to the Governance Working Group.

Future Agenda Items

The Committee considered a report inviting suggestions for future agenda items. Members were supportive of incorporating national updates, such as the establishment of the proposed Ethics and Integrity Commission, relevant national updates and consultations, developments from LGA initiatives like Debate Not Hate, and guidance from Operation Ford. The inclusion of notable cases, case law, breaches attracting national attention, LGA or Ombudsman cases, peer reviews, and general horizon scanning was also agreed upon. These suggestions were resolved to be incorporated into future agendas to ensure the work programme remains responsive to emerging issues and supports effective oversight of standards, conduct, and ethical governance.

Local Determination of Complaints

The Committee received a report detailing 29 new complaints concerning alleged breaches of the Members' Code of Conduct since the previous meeting. This represented a significant increase compared to the same period the previous year. The report outlined the nature of the allegations, with 21 complaints yet to be determined. The discussion covered the statistics and trends, the process for handling complaints, including preliminary tests for vexatiousness, timelines for complainant responses, and the use of a dedicated mailbox and form.

It was agreed to revise the report for the next meeting to include anonymised breakdowns by subject and source, and to group complaints about the same issue. Further development for members regarding social media activity was also deemed necessary. The report was noted.

Standards Committee Annual Report

The Committee received its Annual Report for 2025/26, which summarised its work over the past year, including ethical governance monitoring, the work of the Governance Working Group, member training and development, complaint handling, and member safety. The report highlighted an increase in abuse and harassment experienced by councillors and noted ongoing work to improve reporting mechanisms and support processes. A member safety audit was conducted, with its outcome to be reported shortly. Suggested additions to the annual report, including discussions on local government reorganisation and data on ombudsman complaints resolved in the Council's favour, were agreed upon.