Tag: standards
The challenge of reforming standards
Camilla de Bernhardt Lane has been part of conversations with the government to help its work improving the regime. She explains how important getting standards right is, and the trade-off that makes this such a difficult challenge.
Civility, equality, tolerance and the management of council meetings
A dive into relationships, behaviours and conduct management, involving members, officers, and the public.
Behavioural issues in meetings: what can we learn?
Today (28 February) we published guidance for councils in England on new approaches to hybrid meetings. This guidance focuses on matters relating to behaviours and attitudes, reflecting on lessons learned during the pandemic and seeking to apply those lessons to a world where hybrid formats may, in due course, form one of the ways in […]
What kind of democracy do we really want?
At the time of writing we are in the midst of the political furore over allegations of parties held in Downing Street during lockdown. Far from being trivial, this is a matter which speaks to what democracy is, and what we expect of those who represent us. We still, hopefully, expect those who represent us […]
Performative aspects of scrutiny
In this guest blog Cllr Bryony Rudkin, deputy leader at Ipswich Borough Council, reflects on the importance of behaviours in how local councillors enact democracy and scrutiny. “Read the standing orders, read them and understand them!” At bit like the moon landings, Berlin Wall or England beating Colombia in that penalty shoot out, take your […]
Conduct, civility and the Nolan Principles
Last week was officially Anti-Bullying Week. It was good to have a real-life example of the issues and dynamics involved in victimisation and harassment, in the form of the independent report into bullying alleged to have been carried out by the Home Secretary. It makes it a good time to reflect on whether there are […]