The Democracy and Standards Committee met to discuss a Community Governance Review, updates to the Code of Conduct, and the national picture regarding ethical standards. The committee approved the terms of reference for a Community Governance Review for the whole area of North Northamptonshire and noted updates to the Code of Conduct and the national picture.

Community Governance Review

The committee approved recommending to full council the terms of reference for a Community Governance Review (CGR) of the parish arrangements for the North Northamptonshire Council area. The review, as detailed in the CGR Terms of Reference - Appendix A, will ensure community governance arrangements support effective local government and reflect the identities and interests of local communities in the towns and parish areas across North Northamptonshire.

The review may recommend changes across parish areas, considering residential development, changes in population, and natural settlements, and will consider any imbalances or disproportionate outcomes. It could also consider different options such as creating, merging, altering or abolishing parishes; the naming and style of parishes; electoral arrangements including the ordinary year of elections, council size, number of councillors and parish warding; along with the grouping or de-grouping of parishes.

Heather Jackson, Head of Electoral Services, explained that the review would be undertaken in accordance with the legal framework and provisions of Part 4 of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007¹.

Councillor Emily Fedorowycz suggested linking the review with work relating to hyper devolution². The director responded that this was a separate piece of work being carried out by a different area of the council, which was not as far advanced as the community governance review.

A question was raised regarding the current split of boundaries where different MPs were elected for the same ward. The director informed the committee that West Northamptonshire Council had already carried out a review and concerns had not come forward, but views could be shared during the process and feedback would be taken into consideration.

Members were keen for the consultation exercise to be communicated in as many ways as possible, with suggestions around creating videos, briefings for members being recorded and made available to watch at their convenience, external communications, and engagement with all town and parishes could also be by short videos encouraging responses.

Officers confirmed that town and parish councils would be issued with communication packs and would be encouraged to engage with the local electorate, either at meetings or via drop-in sessions which the council's engagement officer could attend, or via social media and verbal communication. Feedback via the communications hub would also be sought.

Code of Conduct Complaints

The committee received an update on the standards of conduct by members and co-opted members of North Northamptonshire Council and town and parish councils within the region.

Kamila Coulson-Patel, Director of Law and Governance & Monitoring Officer, detailed the content of the Code of Conduct Complaints - Update Final BS report in relation to the conduct complaints, trends, and how allegations about breaches of the code of conduct for members were dealt with.

She also updated the committee on the recent announcement, of 11 November 2025, from the government on its consultation on strengthening the standards and conduct framework for local authorities in England, which had sought views on the reform of the current system. In response to the views expressed in the consultation, the government proposes to legislate to prescribe a mandatory code amongst other updates expected to form new legislation.

She explained the current assessment process for considering complaints, following the criteria, details of which were provided within the report. A decision would then be made about whether the complaint should be referred for investigation or whether an alternative resolution would be sought. As monitoring officer, she could provide local resolutions to resolve complaints without formal investigation.

The responsibility for standards activity, including the monitoring of the operation of the code, falls within the jurisdiction of the standards committee who, from receiving regular updates, could identify trends or issues which may need to be addressed by, for example, providing additional training.

During the last reporting period there had been a total of 23 complaints received. On further information being provided five of the complains were deemed outside of scope as relating to activity prior to the appointment of the councillor and were recorded as no further action. Of the remaining complaints these were concluded at assessment stage.

Details of the training on the code of conduct were provided, and workshops have been set up to support members in their development with a focus on the member officer protocol.

There has been a reduction in complains relating to conduct at meetings, though many previous complaints were determined as no further action. The current legal framework and caselaw protects the freedom of expression Article 10³ and further details were within the report.

There had also been a decrease in complaints relating to interests.

Complaints in relation to social media were becoming a consistent theme nationally and training had been delivered to members regarding the use of social media.

Further details of an individual complaint against a NNC councillor were reported and this was now the subject of criminal proceedings. The councillor had resigned his position and was therefore no longer bound by the code of conduct.

National Picture

The committee received the Report - National Picture KCP - Final, which updated members on matters reported nationally pertaining to ethical standards and councillor conduct.

The report detailed the Ethics and Integrity Commission (EIC) which became operational on 13 October 2025 following the government's announcement that a new body would be formed to promote high standards in public life and to oversee the ethical standards of ministers and public officials and strengthen probity in public life. The report further detailed the commission's role.

The report detailed cases that had been brought relating to Hounslow Council (15 July 2025), Basildon Borough Council (September 2025) and Wolverhampton City Council (September 2025) and the findings thereof.