The Standards Committee of Camden Council met on Monday 26 January 2026 to discuss matters relating to councillor conduct and ethical standards. The meeting's agenda included a review of the council's framework for addressing bullying and harassment, proposals for councillor induction training following the 2026 local elections, and updates on recent standards matters.

Member-Officer Relationships: Bullying and Harassment

A report from the Borough Solicitor addressed the national focus on fostering positive working relationships between councillors and officers, with particular attention to the impact of bullying behaviours. The report considered Camden's existing governance framework for addressing bullying and harassment by councillors, comparing it with approaches in neighbouring councils. It concluded that Camden's framework is robust and highlighted the upcoming post-election period as an opportunity to re-engage all councillors with the Code of Conduct and the Member-Officer Protocol. The report recommended that the Standards Committee note and comment on its findings.

The report detailed that the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) defines bullying as offensive, intimidating, malicious, or insulting behaviour, or an abuse of power that undermines, humiliates, denigrates, or injures the recipient. Harassment is defined by the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 as conduct causing alarm or distress, or putting people in fear of violence, typically involving repeated attempts to impose unwanted communications. Unlawful discrimination, as defined by the Equality Act 2010, involves unfair treatment based on protected characteristics such as age, disability, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation.

Camden's Councillor Code of Conduct, which mirrors the LGA Model Code of Conduct, includes these definitions. The Member-Officer Protocol provides guidance on roles, responsibilities, and relationships, emphasising that while robust challenge is permitted, it should not result in personal criticism of an officer, particularly in public forums. A comparative analysis of 11 other central and north London councils indicated that Camden's Code of Conduct and Member-Officer Protocol compare favourably, offering a strong formal framework on bullying and harassment.

Standards Induction Training for Councillors after the 2026 Local Elections

The committee was presented with a report outlining the suggested standards element of the Member induction programme for councillors following the May 2026 local elections. The report noted that with a significant number of councillors not standing for re-election, there would be a substantial cohort of new councillors requiring induction. The proposed programme includes introductory sessions covering practical arrangements, council operations, finance, the Code of Conduct, and the Member-Officer Protocol. It was suggested that these standards-specific training sessions be mandatory for all councillors, both new and returning. The committee was invited to comment on the proposals and endorse the compulsory nature of the training.

The induction programme aims to provide new councillors with essential information to orient them to their role, helping them to quickly understand how the council operates and the complexities of their position. It also serves as an opportunity to remind returning councillors of the basics of their role. Key areas to be covered include the Code of Conduct, registers of interest, gifts and hospitality, declaring interests at meetings, bias and predetermination, the Member/Officer Protocol, how to make complaints, and how to participate in decision-making as a private citizen, with particular attention to social media guidance.

Update on Standards Matters - January 2026

This report provided the committee with updates on recent matters concerning standards and actions from previous meetings. It highlighted that following a revision to the Register of Interests form, which introduced separate columns for councillors' interests and those of relevant others, one councillor noted they had previously been unaware of the requirement to include their spouse's or partner's interests, indicating the format change served as a helpful reminder.

The report also detailed the council's obligations regarding the disclosure of related party transactions in its accounts. These are transactions between the council and other bodies where councillors have control or significant influence over both. External auditors have requested enhanced assurance on the completeness of Members' registers of interests, leading to a process where all councillors are asked to confirm their registers are up to date. This process is ongoing and has caused delays in the audit.

Furthermore, the report noted the launch of the Ethics and Integrity Commission (EIC) on 31 October 2025, which replaces the Committee on Standards in Public Life (CSPL) and aims to promote high standards in public life. It also summarised the government's plans to reform the local government standards framework, including introducing mandatory codes of conduct, requiring formal standards committees, and providing support during investigations. Camden's long-standing support for a strengthened standards regime was reiterated, noting its retention of a formal Standards Committee and a comprehensive Code of Conduct.

The report also referenced two cases concerning the registration of interests: one at Cornwall Council where a former councillor failed to declare a non-registerable interest, and another at Northumberland County Council where councillors were warned about compliance with legal requirements to register disclosable pecuniary interests. The Borough Solicitor's comment emphasised that failing to register or disclose a Statutory Disclosable Pecuniary Interest within 28 days is a criminal offence.

In terms of standards cases, the report mentioned a finding at City of Wolverhampton Council that a councillor had breached the Code of Conduct for falsely claiming to have served as a Royal Marine. The report also noted that Leicestershire Police had confirmed no criminal offences were identified following an inquiry into allegations that a councillor offered free ice cream to voters during local elections, and therefore no further action would be taken.

Standards Information and Guidance Record

This report set out the record of standards information and guidance issued to Members of the Council. Since the previous meeting, councillors were reminded in September 2025 of their obligation to register statutory disclosable pecuniary interests, compulsory registerable non-pecuniary interests, and gifts and hospitality. A further reminder was issued on 11 December 2025 regarding the need to register gifts and hospitality received over the holiday period. The committee was invited to suggest any areas where guidance might be reviewed or reissued.

The record detailed various constitutional guidance documents, including the Members' Code of Conduct, Dealing with Misconduct Complaints against Members, Members' Gifts and Hospitality Protocol, Member/Officer Protocol, Use of Information Technology – Guidance on the Members' Code of Conduct, and Social Media Guidelines for Councillors. It also listed other guidance issued via email, such as reminders about registering gifts and hospitality, the implications of specific interest categories, and advice on the use of personal email accounts by councillors.