Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will consider introducing stronger (a) censure and (b) sanction options for serious breaches of member codes of conduct in local authorities.

In December 2024 the Government launched a consultation seeking views on proposed measures to strengthen the standards and conduct framework for local authorities in England, including the introduction of the sanction of suspension, to empower local authorities to deal appropriately member misconduct where it arises. The Government Response will be issued in due course. After its release, we will continue to work actively with local government on developing the detailed policies for implementation.