Councils will have new powers to suspend elected members for serious misconduct for up to six months, and withhold allowances, under proposals for reforming the current councillors’ standards regime.
A new mandatory code of conduct will also apply to all types and tiers of local authority in England, holding all councillors to the same standard.
Cllr Matt Boughton, Chair of the LGA’s Safer and Stronger Communities Committee, said: “The vast majority of councillors act with the best of intentions and uphold high standards. Yet, in those cases where standards have fallen, it is clear that the current system does not meet the requirements of modern local government.
“We support measures that foster an environment in which respectful debate and freedom of speech is encouraged, providing clear national standards through a mandatory code, and robust, but proportionate, sanctions for misconduct.
“Equally, reforms must protect the rights of councillors and complainants, while ensuring local representation is not inappropriately disrupted.
“We urge the Government to work closely with councils to implement these reforms in a way that best serves councils and their communities, and will respond to the Government’s legislative proposals in full when they’re released.”