MHCLG outlines next steps on local government standards at the Smaller Councils Committee

Our Smaller Councils Committee held its first meeting of the year on 21 January 2026, where it received a detailed briefing from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) on the government's proposed reforms to the local government standards regime.

Megan McKibbin, the standards lead at MHCLG, provided an update on the government's response to its standards consultation. The response sets out a package of proposals aimed at strengthening the ethical framework for local government, which will require primary legislation to be implemented.

MHCLG confirmed they are actively seeking parliamentary opportunities to take the proposals forward and are committed to keeping us updated as work progresses on this crucial matter for parish and town councils.

At the meeting, the committee discussed priorities for its work plan. Key areas identified included environmental issues, planning pressures linked to housing and employment development, the use of planning consultants, and the role of county associations in providing planning support, particularly where resident mobilisation is a factor.

The committee also agreed to consider work on ensuring consistency between neighbourhood plans and local plans, the impact of our elections campaign, and supporting smaller parish and town councils to meet the requirements of Assertion 10.

The committee's new chair, Vanessa Lowe, welcomed new members to the committee. She highlighted the importance of the committee's role in ensuring that the voices of smaller parish and town councils are reflected in national policy discussions.