BCP Council welcomes new plans holding councillors accountable for misconduct
Government to give councils the power to suspend badly behaved councillors for Up to six months
Councillors who repeatedly break rules or commit serious misconduct breaches could be suspended up to six months and lose allowances under new Government reforms to strengthen standards and rebuild confidence in local authorities.
Under plans unveiled earlier this week, councils will be given the ability to suspend councillors and mayors who break rules, including rules on behaviour, bullying and assault, as well as being able to withhold their allowances.
Robin Watson, BCP Council’s interim monitoring officer, said “We welcome the government’s proposed measures to strengthen standards.
“We look forward to working with the government and other councils to implement these changes and will respond fully when legislative proposals are published.”
The proposed reforms will respond to challenges faced by local authorities since the 2011 Localism Act came into effect, which has left councils’ hands tied when handling misconduct.
The lack of effective sanctions for those who do breech code of conduct has undermined people’s confidence in councils.
In a public consultation 86% of respondents backed suspending powers and 94% backed a mandatory code of conduct.
Alongside suspending councillor and withholding allowances, a mandatory code of conduct will apply to all types and tiers of local authority in England.
The government will also pass a law to introduce a requirement that principal authorities establish and maintain standards committees, interim suspension powers, support for complainants, and a national appeals function.
Tom Hayes, MP for Bournemouth East, said “Many councillors are dedicated, but some are bad apples. Labour is listening to the public consultation and taking action to secure the highest local standards.”