CALLS have been made to improve the standards of councillor conduct by a major local government organisation.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has written an open letter to Robert Jenrick, Local Government Minister, urging government to ‘bring forward changes to the current standards regime governing conduct in local government’.

It comes as recent meetings in Handforth, Frodsham, and Penketh have come to light, exposing representatives’ bad behaviour — leading to a vote of no confidence being submitted in Cheshire East mayor Cllr Barry Burkhill, who is also on Handforth Parish Council.

Cllr Sue Baxter, chairman of NALC, said: “In my recent open letter, I restated our firm commitment to promoting and supporting good governance and the highest standards of conduct and behaviour in local (parish and town) councils. Most local councils are well run, with clerks and council staff working as a team with councillors to deliver their ambitions for the community.

“But all too often we hear about the negative impact poor and disruptive behaviour can have; by councillors, clerks and residents. Simply put, we must tackle this issue and put a stop to the actions of the few overshadowing the many whose tireless efforts play such a vital role in our civic life and local communities.”

NALC’s ask of Whitehall is to implement the recommendations of a 2019 report from the Committee on Standard in Public Life.

They included tougher sanctions for poor councillor conduct, an improved process for declaring interests, and a strengthening of safeguards in disciplinary investigations.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Local Government, and Communities said that it was ‘carefully considering’ the 22 recommendations aimed at government and a ‘response will be issued in due course’.

They added that councils will have the opportunity to have their say on any legislative changes via public consultation.