1-8 of 8 results for subject:Councillors
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To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when the Government’s response to its 2025 public consultation on (a) strengthening local government standards and (b) addressing misconduct and bullying by town and parish councillors will be published.
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when the Government’s response to its 2025 public consultation on (a) strengthening local government standards and (b) addressing misconduct and bullying by town and parish councillors will be published.
The Government published its response to the consultation “Strengthening the standards and conduct framework for local authorities in England” in November 2025. The response sets out the Government’s intention to introduce measures including a mandatory Code of Conduct for councillors and strengthened oversight of the local government standards regime.
We intend to legislate on local government standards reforms when parliamentary time allows.
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she plans to take to increase protection of town and parish council clerks against bullying by elected councillors.
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she plans to take to increase protection of town and parish council clerks against bullying by elected councillors.
In December the Government launched a consultation seeking views on proposed measures to strengthen the local government standards and conduct framework for local authorities in England. The response to the consultation will be issued in due course. After its release, we will continue to work actively with local government on developing the detailed policies for implementation.
We are committed to empowering local authorities of all types and tiers, including town and parish councils, to deal with member misconduct where it arises.
Motion lapsed. Motion made and Question proposed that this House do now adjourn. Agreed to on question.
Motion lapsed. Motion made and Question proposed that this House do now adjourn. Agreed to on question.
That this House expresses its support and appreciation for local community, parish and town councils which are the first tier of local government in England and Wales and play a vital role in our communities; notes with concern that whilst the vast majority of local councils are well run, there remain behavioural issues in a small minority of councils and by members of the public which involve bullying, intimidation and harassment of both councillors and their staff, as confirmed through a dedicated Civility and Respect project led by the National Association of Local Councils (NALC), Society of Local Council Clerks (SLCC), One Voice Wales (OVW), county associations of local councils, and also highlighted by the Association of Local Council Clerks (ALCC); further notes with concern this is leading to councillors and staff leaving the sector and is creating difficulties in recruiting to those roles; and calls on the Government to re-visit its response to the Committee on Standards in Public Life report on local government ethical standards and introduce the report’s recommendations in full including tougher sanctions such as suspension for poorly behaving councillors.
That this House expresses its support and appreciation for local community, parish and town councils which are the first tier of local government in England and Wales and play a vital role in our communities; notes with concern that whilst the vast majority of local councils are well run, there...
That this House notes with deep concern convincing evidence collected by the Association of Local Council Clerks showing that, far from being untypical, the toxic behaviour by Parish Councillors in Cheshire exposed online in December 2020, is endemic in a significant minority of Town and Parish Councils; deplores the departure from their roles of dozens of part-time and full-time Clerks, as a result of bullying by Councillors who face negligible sanctions for such misbehaviour; regrets the anguish thus generated and the substantial cost to the public purse arising from settlements following breakdown in employer and employee relations; and calls on the Government to establish an appropriate and effective sanctions mechanism, including financial penalties, to deal with local Councillors found guilty of such misconduct.
That this House notes with deep concern convincing evidence collected by the Association of Local Council Clerks showing that, far from being untypical, the toxic behaviour by Parish Councillors in Cheshire exposed online in December 2020, is endemic in a significant minority of Town and Parish Councils; deplores the departure...
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what sanctions are (a) available and (b) proposed for use against town and parish (i) councils that implement ultra-vires decisions and (ii) councillors that instruct clerks to implement ultra-vires decisions leading to the resignation of those clerks; and...
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what sanctions are (a) available and (b) proposed for use against town and parish (i) councils that implement ultra-vires decisions and (ii) councillors that instruct clerks to implement ultra-vires decisions leading to the resignation of those clerks; and...
The Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014 enables local electors to ask the auditor of a parish council to apply to the High Court for a declaration that an item of account is ultra vires or unlawful, or to issue a report on matters which are in the public interest (‘a public interest report’). The auditor may also make such a declaration or issue a public interest report without any request from a local elector. The council is required to publicly respond to any report in the public interest issued by the auditor.
Under the Localism Act 2011 parish councils are required to adopt a code of conduct for members. Parish councillors that fail to observe the highest standards of conduct in their civic role may be investigated by the principal council’s monitoring officer on receipt of a complaint. Currently, the parish council may locally determine its response, following advice from the Monitoring Officer or legal team and the involvement of an independent person to advise the council before it makes a decision.
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what progress he has made in implementing recommendations 20 and 21 of the Committee on Standards in Public Life review of local government ethical standards relating to misconduct by town and parish councillors; and if he will make...
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what progress he has made in implementing recommendations 20 and 21 of the Committee on Standards in Public Life review of local government ethical standards relating to misconduct by town and parish councillors; and if he will make...
The Committee on Standards in Public Life report of their review recommends some strengthening of the local government standards and conduct system with numerous legislative changes and amendments. Of the 26 recommendations, 22 were aimed at Government and we have been considering these carefully. I will be issuing the Government response to the report in due course.
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many town and parish council clerks have (a) resigned, (b) taken long-term sick leave and (c) been placed on long-term suspension as a result of (i) bullying by councillors and members of the community and (ii) refusing...
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many town and parish council clerks have (a) resigned, (b) taken long-term sick leave and (c) been placed on long-term suspension as a result of (i) bullying by councillors and members of the community and (ii) refusing...
We do not hold this information. Local authorities – including parish councils - are independent employers, responsible for the management and organisation of their own workforce, including on pay, redundancy and other terms and conditions. Any employee subjected to bullying or harassment may find it helpful to speak to ACAS (the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service), who offer independent and impartial help to employees.