Joint Standards Committee	19 March 2026
Report of the Monitoring Officer

Annual Report for 2025/2026

Summary

1. This report provides the Joint Standards Committee with a draft Annual Report for 2025/2026.

Background

2. It is good practice for the Committee to prepare an Annual Report at the start of each municipal year, setting out work undertaken by the Joint Standards Committee during the previous year. 

3. The report can be presented to Full Council at the meeting on 16 July 2026 subject to finalisation. This will allow it to be presented alongside the Annual Report from Audit & Governance Committee.

4. The breakdown of complaints received during the municipal year has been calculated to date. A full year comparison is not yet available due the timing of the report, but the figures are sufficient to demonstrate trends and will be a like for like comparison to last year’s report which was also prepared in March. Complaints will continue to be recorded.

5. As well as the breakdown of complaints, the report also provides an update of the other work of the committee, including member training and the redraft of Appendix 29, Joint Standards Committee procedures.

6. A draft of the annual report is attached at Annex A.

Implications

Financial

7. Not applicable to this report.

Human Resources (HR)

8. Not applicable to this report.

Equalities

9. The Equality Act 2010 places specific duties on Local Authorities, and Members, including Members of the Joint Standards Committee who play a vital role in ensuring that equality issues are integral to the aims and performance of a Local Authority.  Providing an Annual Report of work undertaken by the Committee, providing an overview of the Code of Conduct complaints received and reviewing the procedures in place for such complaints ensures that all Members adhere to the principles of the Act. 

Legal

10. As detailed within the report.

Crime and Disorder, Information Technology and Property

11. Not applicable to this report.

Recommendations

12. Members are recommended to note the report and provide their views on the draft Report, ahead of it being presented to Full Council later in the year.

Author & Officer Responsible for the report: Julie Gallagher Deputy Monitoring Officer julie.gallagher@york.gov.uk	Chief Officer Responsible for the report: Bryn Roberts Director of Governance & Monitoring Officer
	Report Approved	ü	Date	11 March 2026
Specialist Implications Officer(s):
Wards Affected:					All	ü
For further information please contact the author of the report.

Annexes

· Annex A – Draft Annual Report 2025/26

Background Papers:

· City of York Council Constitution