Strengthening the standards and conduct framework for local authorities in England

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) is consulting on introducing strengthened sanctions for local authority code of conduct breaches in England.

This includes all ‘relevant authorities’ as defined by Section 27(6) of the Localism Act 2011, which includes:

• a county council
• a unitary authority
• London borough councils
• a district council
• the Greater London Authority
• the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority
• the Common Council of the City of London in its capacity as a local authority or police authority
• the Council of the Isles of Scilly
• parish councils
• a fire and rescue authority in England constituted by a scheme under section 2 of the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004 or a scheme to which section 4 of that Act applies,
• a joint authority established by Part 4 of the Local Government Act 1985,an economic prosperity board established under section 88 of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009
• a combined authority established under section 103 of that Act,
• a combined county authority established under section 9(1) of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023
• the Broads Authority
• a National Park authority in England established under section 63 of the Environment Act 1995

It does not cover:

• police and crime commissioners
• internal drainage boards
• any other local authority not otherwise defined as a ‘relevant authority’ above

All references to ‘members’ refer to elected members, mayors, co-opted and appointed members of each of the ‘relevant authorities’ defined above.