The Governance, Ethics and Standards Committee of Derbyshire County Council was scheduled to meet on Thursday, 15 January 2026, to discuss the completion of the Member Induction Programme, a proposed minor change to the Council's Constitution regarding Trading Standards legislation, and the outcome of a government consultation on strengthening the standards and conduct framework for local authorities.

Update on Member Induction Programme

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on the attendance of elected members on the Member Induction Programme following the May 2025 elections. The report detailed the content of the induction, which included an initial day at County Hall followed by four face-to-face sessions, and four mandatory e-learning modules. Completion rates for various modules were presented, showing an overall improvement compared to 2021. The report also included feedback from a member survey, which indicated that while the sessions were generally well-received, some members felt the programme was rushed and suggested more time for follow-up training and questions. A plan to include a dedicated section on learning and development opportunities in the weekly Members briefing email was also noted.

Minor Change to the Constitution: Trading Standards Legislation Update

The committee was scheduled to be notified of minor amendments to the Council's Constitution. These amendments were intended to update the list of legislation under which the Council's Trading Standards Service can take enforcement action. The Director of Legal and Democratic Services, under delegated authority, had agreed to update this list. The report indicated that this updated list would be included in Appendix A to Appendix 1 of the Constitution – Responsibility for Functions. The committee was asked to note this decision, which would also be reported to the full Council. The report highlighted that ensuring the list is reflective of current legislation is crucial for the Trading Standards Service to effectively protect residents and businesses.

Outcome of Government Consultation on Strengthening the Standards and Conduct Framework

The committee was scheduled to be updated on the outcome of a government consultation concerning the strengthening of the standards and conduct framework for local authorities in England. The current framework, established by the Localism Act 2011, requires councils to adopt a code of conduct based on the seven principles of public life and to have arrangements for investigating breaches. The government's English Devolution White Paper indicated an intention to reform this framework, citing concerns that the existing system was ineffectual and lacked adequate powers to sanction councillors who seriously breached codes of conduct.

The consultation, which ran from December 2024 to February 2025, sought views on proposals including:

• A mandatory minimum code of conduct for all local authorities.
• A requirement for principal authorities to convene formal standards committees and publish investigation outcomes.
• The introduction of powers for local authorities to suspend councillors for serious breaches, with provisions for interim suspension in complex cases.
• A new disqualification category for gross misconduct or repeated suspensions.
• The establishment of a national body for appeals.
• Measures to empower victims of councillor misconduct.

The government published its response in November 2025, indicating its intention to legislate for a comprehensive reform of the current regime. This reform is expected to include a mandatory code of conduct, formal standards committees with provisions for objectivity and transparency, support for complainants and councillors during investigations, a 'right for review' for both parties, powers for authorities to suspend elected members for up to six months, interim suspension powers, a new disqualification criterion for repeat offenders, and a national appeals function. The report stated that officers would continue to monitor legislative changes and report updates to the committee.