The Standards Advisory Committee of Tower Hamlets Council met on Thursday, 16 January 2025, to discuss a government consultation on strengthening the standards and conduct framework for local authorities, and to review the council's member learning and development programme. The committee also received updates on the progress towards achieving the LGA Member Learning and Development Charter Mark, and on dispensations and declarations of interests.

Government Consultation on the Standards and Conduct Framework

The committee discussed a government consultation on strengthening the standards and conduct framework for local authorities in England. This consultation, which runs until 26 February 2025, seeks views on introducing a mandatory minimum code of conduct, strengthening arrangements for Standards Committees, and introducing new sanctions for poor conduct, including suspension. Councillor Bodrul Choudhury noted that the government appears to be in favour of introducing these sanctions. The committee agreed that a formal council response should be submitted to the consultation.

Member Learning and Development Yearly Update

The committee received an update on the council's Member Learning and Development Programme, which provides training in personal skills, professional development, council policies, and local issues. The programme includes committee-specific training, general sessions, member briefings, external courses, and individual Personal Development Plans (PDPs) with mentoring and coaching opportunities. Councillor Bodrul Choudhury was highlighted as a particularly active participant, having attended 13 in-person training sessions. The report noted that over two-thirds of councillors have engaged with the PDP process. Key development priorities identified across councillors include partnership working, scrutiny and challenge, regulating and monitoring, communication skills, providing vision, managing performance, and excellence in leadership. The council is also preparing for a new Member Induction Programme following the May 2026 local elections.

Achieving the LGA Member Learning and Development Charter Mark

Progress towards achieving the Local Government Association (LGA) Charter Mark for Member Learning and Development was presented. The council has been working to meet the Charter Mark criteria, which include demonstrating commitment from leadership, encouraging citizenship, ensuring equal access to development, having an adequate budget, and providing adequate officer resources. The council has also undertaken a Be A Councillor campaign, which included events to encourage potential candidates, particularly women, to stand for election. The committee endorsed the proposal to move forward with the formal assessment for the LGA Charter Mark, with accreditation provisionally booked for the end of February 2025.

Dispensations under Section 33 of the Localism Act 2011

The committee was informed that no specific dispensations have been granted in the period since the last report. A continuing general dispensation remains in place for all members for their current four-year term of office, allowing them to be present, speak, and vote where they would otherwise have a disclosable pecuniary interest in matters relating to housing, council tax, determining allowances, and council officer pay impacting member allowances.

Register of Interests and Gifts and Hospitality Quarterly Update

The committee reviewed the register of members' interests and declarations of gifts and hospitality. Two declarations were received during the reporting period: Councillor Kabir Ahmed declined a gift of a basketball valued at £90 from Mount Anvil, and Councillor Peter Golds accepted hospitality valued at £30 from the City of London Corporation for dinner at the Conservative Conference. The report also detailed a historical audit that identified a small number of past declarations that had not been correctly pulled through into committee reports, which has since been rectified.

Work Plan

The committee noted its current Work Plan for 2024/25, which includes ongoing items such as quarterly updates on the Register of Interests, Gifts and Hospitality, and the progress towards achieving the LGA Member Learning and Development Charter Mark. The next meeting is scheduled for 3 April 2025.