NALC urges Angela Rayner MP to act now on councillor standards reform
We have written to Angela Rayner MP, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, urging her to bring forward long-promised reforms to strengthen standards in local government.
In our letter, our chair, Cllr Iain Hamilton, welcomed the government's commitment to devolution and its recognition of parish and town councils in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act. We also called for devolution to extend beyond mayoral and combined authority areas so that every city, town and village has a pathway to greater powers and fiscal autonomy.
We stressed that strengthening local democracy must go hand in hand with protecting those who serve it. Intimidation, abuse and poor behaviour experienced by some councillors and council staff are undermining public trust and creating barriers to public service. We warned that weaknesses in the current standards framework are making it harder to retain councillors and staff and deterring people from standing for office.
The call builds on our long-standing campaign for a fairer, stronger and more consistent standards regime. Earlier this year, we gave evidence to the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee, calling for stronger sanctions, a mandatory national code of conduct and better protections against bullying, harassment and intimidation.
The letter comes at a time when parish and town councils are facing increasing pressures and responsibilities as local government reorganisation continues. Recent research found that councillors and clerks are increasingly acting as connectors, communicators and catalysts in their communities while dealing with challenges including bullying and disrespect.
Against this backdrop, we said the government must use its current momentum to act now and get things done, giving parish and town councils breathing space from these pressures. We also reminded the secretary of state that, in October 2024, she acknowledged that councils lack a system to protect victims or act on unacceptable conduct and committed to reforms including stronger sanctions. We have strongly urged the government to bring forward new legislation immediately.
Strengthening democracy must also mean protecting those who serve it. The current standards regime is undermining public trust, making it harder to retain councillors and staff, and deterring people from standing for office. The government has recognised the need for reform. We strongly urge ministers to bring forward new legislation immediately.
Cllr Iain Hamilton
NALC chair
