The Newham Council Standards Committee is scheduled to meet on Wednesday 10 December 2025, to discuss a range of topics including an overview of the committee's role, its workplan, and updates to the ethical framework. The committee will also consider the government's response to a consultation on strengthening standards and conduct for local authorities. Additionally, there will be an update on complaints and a review of compliance with the non-statutory Best Value Notice¹.

Overview of the Role of the Committee

The Standards Committee is expected to discuss its role in promoting ethical governance and high standards of conduct across the council. The report pack includes the terms of reference for the Standards Committee, the Code of Conduct for Elected Members, and protocols for member and officer conduct, social media use, and resource management.

The report pack refers to the seven Nolan Principles² of public life, and the CIPFA/SOLACE Delivering Good Governance in Local Government Framework 2016³.

The Interim Director of Legal and Governance and Monitoring Officer, Janie Berry's report pack mentions the importance of the committee in light of the council's improvement journey following a Local Government Association (LGA) Corporate Peer Challenge in 2023, and a non-statutory Best Value Notice from the MHCLG (Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government) issued in May 2025.

The report pack also refers to a Cross-Party Working Group, whose recommendations were agreed by Full Council on 14 July 2025.

Standards Committee Workplan

The committee is expected to consider and agree its workplan for the 2025/2026 municipal year. The proposed workplan includes standing items such as complaints updates and reports of dispensations granted by the Monitoring Officer. It also includes reviews of the Member Development Programme, Member Induction Programme, mandatory training, protocols for member and officer conduct, and registers of interests, gifts and hospitality. The committee will also receive an update on the MHCLG consultation on the Standards Framework, and consider its annual report to the council.

Strengthening the Standards and Conduct Framework

The committee is scheduled to note the government's response to its consultation on strengthening the standards and conduct framework for local authorities in England. The consultation, launched in December 2024, sought views on measures to improve conduct among elected and co-opted members, including a mandatory code of conduct. The government's response, published in November 2025, proposes strengthening sanctions for misconduct, including powers to suspend councillors and withhold allowances. The report pack notes that the government also intends to introduce a new disqualification criterion for members suspended more than once within five years, and create a national appeals function.

Ethical Framework Update

The committee is expected to receive an update on the ethical framework, including declarations of interests made at council meetings between 7 June 2025 and 28 November 2025, and gifts and hospitality declared by members between 1 June 2025 and 28 November 2025. The report pack notes that some declarations were recorded outside the required 28-day timeframe, due to submissions being incorrectly sent to the Chief Executive's Office.

The report pack names Councillor Amar Virdee, Councillor John Gray, Councillor Lester Hudson, Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz OBE, Councillor Sarah Ruiz, Councillor Charlene McLean, Councillor Zulfiqar Ali, Councillor Neil Wilson, Councillor Blossom Young, Councillor John Whitworth and Councillor Rita Chadha as councillors who made declarations of interest. The report pack also names Ibrahim Dogus of the Centre for Turkish Studies, and Pophouse Entertainment as organisations that offered gifts or hospitality to councillors.

Exclusion of Press and Public, and Exempt Minutes

The committee is expected to consider a resolution to exclude the press and public from the meeting for specific items of business that may involve the disclosure of exempt information, as defined in the Local Government Act 1972⁴. The committee will also consider the exempt minutes of the last meeting.

Update on Complaints

The committee is scheduled to receive a report setting out complaints received or actioned.