The Standards Committee are scheduled to meet to discuss updates on complaints against members, gifts and hospitality received by members, and the register of members' interests. They will also receive verbal updates on member training and development, and the recruitment of an Independent Member (Chair). The committee will also discuss the Member Standards Newsletter and the work programme.

Update on complaints against members

The Monitoring Officer is scheduled provide a report to the committee summarising the status of any open complaints against council members since the last report in June 2025.

The report includes a table summarising complaints from 27 June 2025 to 26 September 2025. One complaint, reference number ENG - ZVN915, made by a member of the public on 7 July 2025, is listed. The nature of the complaint concerns:

Questioning transparency, impartiality, and potential breach of the Member Code of Conduct due to undisclosed interests

The complaint was closed on 18 August 2025 with the outcome 'partially upheld'.

The report also refers to the process for dealing with complaints against members, stating that any complaint of a breach of the Member's Code of Conduct must be made to the Monitoring Officer. The Monitoring Officer deals with all complaints in line with the council's Arrangements for dealing with allegations of failure to comply with the Code of Conduct for Members.

Register of Members' Interests

The committee is scheduled to consider the operation of the Register of Members' Interests, including the efficacy of the process for granting dispensations in relation to members' interests.

Gifts and hospitality received by members

The committee will receive an update on gifts and hospitality received by members. Guidance for members on this matter can be found in the council constitution.

Appendix 1 of the Public Reports Pack shows a table titled Gifts and Hospitalities – Time period from 27th June 2025 to 4th September 2025, which is completely empty.

Work programme

The committee will discuss the work programme, which includes a review of the operation of the Register of Members' Interests, a Member Standards Newsletter, and member training.

The draft standards committee work programme April 2025 - March 2026 lists the following items for discussion:

• To consider the operation of the Register of Members' Interests.
• To consider the operation and efficacy of the process for granting dispensations in relation to Members' Interests.
• Member Standards Newsletter
• Gifts and Hospitality received by Members
• Update on Complaints against Members
• Member Training
• Work Programme

Other business

The agenda for the meeting also includes:

• Apologies for absence
• Declarations of interest
• Minutes of the previous meeting
• A verbal update from the Monitoring Officer on the recruitment and appointment of an Independent Member (Chair)
• A verbal update on member training and development
• Member Standards Newsletter
• Any other urgent business
• Dates and times of future meetings, currently planned for 18 December 2025 and 26 March 2026.