Reputation management

Local government has always come under heavy scrutiny from the press and from members of the public, in terms of the conduct of elected representatives and the decisions they make, but in the digital age, inappropriate conduct, acts and omissions are ever more visible to the public.

The use of digital and social media has grown exponentially in recent years. This has positive benefits to be embraced, such as the opportunity to engage with communities by providing online information and services. However, with these benefits comes greater accountability and risk of reputation damage if local authority executives and members conduct or decision making is inappropriate, biased, unfair or perceived to be unfair. To maintain public trust in the system, members and employees have a duty to maintain high standards of conduct and ethics and to consider the consequences of their personal conduct on the reputation of the local authority as an entity.

The Localism Act 2011 abolished the Standards Board regime and the national code of conduct that went with it and replaced it with a requirement that authorities promote and maintain high standards of conduct by members.

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JCSI publishes thirty-fifth report of Session 2024–26

The Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments (JCSI) has published its thirty-fifth report of session 2024–26. Ten instruments were drawn to the special attention of the House: the Marking of Retail Goods Regulations 2025, SI 2025/790, reported for unexpected use of enabling power due to unintended retrospective effect; the Online Safety Act 2023 (Fees Notification) Regulations 2025, SI 2025/747, for failure to comply with proper legislative practice by omitting access details for incorporated documents; the Electricity Act 1989 (Requirement of Consent for Solar Generating Stations) (England) Order 2025, SI 2025/762, for unjustifiable delay in laying before Parliament; the Road Vehicles (Type Approval) (Amendment) (No. 2), Regulations 2025, SI 2025/796, for defective drafting in one respect; the Fire Safety (Residential Evacuation Plans) (England) Regulations 2025, SI 2025/797, for failure to comply with proper legislative practice by not citing consultation under the UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR); the Air Navigation (Amendment) Order 2025, SI 2025/850, for doubt as to whether it is intra vires in one respect; the Childcare Payments (Eligibility) (Amendment and Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2025, SI 2025/857, for defective drafting. The Committee also reported three Orders made under the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006: the Isle of Man Order 2025, SI 2025/824, the Jersey Order 2025 SI 2025/825, and the Guernsey Order 2025 SI 2025/827, each for doubt as to vires arising from incorrect citation of enabling powers.

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