The Councillor Conduct Committee met to discuss an update on a complaint against Councillor Mohammad Islam, a review of member complaints, and guidance to members. The committee agreed that Councillor Bektas Ozer, Chair of the Committee, would write to Councillor Islam to express their disappointment that he had not complied with their requests and ask again that he apologise and complete the training asked of him. The committee also noted the date of the next meeting as Tuesday 14 April 2025.

Update on Councillor Islam Complaint

The committee discussed the ongoing situation regarding Councillor Mohammad Islam, who had been found to have breached the code of conduct at a meeting on 12 August 2025. The committee had requested that Councillor Islam provide a written apology to the council, undertake further training on the code of conduct, and not use his position as a councillor to support visa applications.

Terry Osborne, Director of Law & Governance, advised that despite repeated reminders, Councillor Islam had not yet apologised or undergone training. She noted that there was very little the council or committee could do in response, but she would continue to encourage compliance with the committee's ruling.

Members expressed their disappointment with Councillor Islam's attitude, stating that it reflected badly on all elected members and that it was disrespectful of him not to have apologised.

Members asked if there was any other action they could take. Terry Osborne responded that there wasn't anything else they could do at this point, but highlighted that the government were proposing changes to the standards regime, including re-introducing the power to suspend members and creating an independent body to deal with complaints.

The committee agreed that Councillor Bektas Ozer would write to Councillor Islam, expressing the committee's disappointment that he had not complied with their requests and ask again that he apologise and complete the training asked of him.

The original complaint against Councillor Islam was made by Councillor Ergin Erbil, concerning Councillor Islam's conduct when he was Deputy Mayor and then Mayor. The complaint related to Councillor Islam allegedly using the office of the Mayor to support visa applications for his friends and family, contrary to the advice of officers and for reasons not connected with the borough. Following an investigation, the committee found that Councillor Islam had breached paragraphs 7.1(v), 7.1(ix) and 7.2 of the code of conduct¹.

Review of Member Complaints

Terry Osborne introduced a report reviewing member complaints. She highlighted that she did not receive many complaints about members, that few of these were found to constitute a breach of the code of conduct, and that when there was a breach, members generally responded positively and took the remedial action required of them. She stated that this reflected that councillor's behaviour was good on the whole, and that members demonstrated a high level of awareness and understanding of the principles and rules they were expected adhere to.

Terry Osborne described how a lot of the complaints related to councillors not responding to members of the public. She explained that following investigations, only three complaints were upheld. One resulted in an apology being given by the member and training, another amounted to a technical breach where a member failed to declare a gift they had received as it had come to them via another member, and the member registered the gift as soon as they were notified of the need to do, and another related to Councillor Islam which appeared elsewhere on the agenda.

Members agreed to note the report.

Guidance to Members

Terry Osborne introduced the report. She explained that she would bring proposals for how the council would implement the proposed government changes to a future meeting once the detail around them had been published. Terry Osborne summarised the guidance and advice she had already circulated to members and asked if members found this helpful and if there were any other areas they thought guidance might be useful. Terry Osborne added that officers would be developing a Member Induction Programme so that new and returning councillors received appropriate training and guidance following the forthcoming election in May.

Members felt that the guidance notes were helpful and they could go back to their groups to ask if there was any further advice other members felt would be useful, but could not think of anything else that needed covering for the time being.