On 9 February 2026, Kingston's Audit, Governance and Standards Committee found that Councillor Kugan had broken the Members' Code of Conduct. This was not the first time. The committee proceeded to decide on sanctions against the councillor.
That two-sentence summary may sound dry, but it raises real questions about accountability in a council with 48 elected members across 19 wards. How does the process actually work? What can the committee do? And is it enough?
This explainer walks you through every stage — from complaint to sanction.
Every councillor in England is required to sign up to a code of conduct when they take office. In Kingston, this is the Members' Code of Conduct, adopted under the Localism Act 2011.
The code sets out how councillors must behave — in their public role, in their dealings with residents and officers, and in how they handle conflicts of interest. It covers things like bullying, disrespect, misuse of position, and failing to declare financial or personal interests.
Breaking the code does not automatically carry legal penalties. But it can result in formal sanctions — and it is a matter of public record.
Step one: the complaint is made.
Any member of the public, council officer, or fellow councillor can submit a complaint about a councillor's conduct. Complaints go to the council's Monitoring Officer — a senior legal official whose job it is to ensure the council acts lawfully.
Step two: initial assessment.
The Monitoring Officer, often working alongside an Independent Person (a lay member appointed specifically for this purpose), decides whether the complaint warrants investigation. Many complaints are filtered out at this stage — either because they fall outside the code's scope, or because the alleged behaviour, even if true, would not amount to a breach.
Step three: formal investigation.
If the complaint clears the initial assessment, an investigator is appointed. This is typically a solicitor or barrister external to the council, to ensure independence. They gather evidence, speak to witnesses, and produce a written report with findings.
Step four: the hearing.
The Audit, Governance and Standards Committee then convenes a formal hearing. The councillor is given the opportunity to respond to the findings. The committee — made up of elected councillors and at least one Independent Person — then decides whether a breach occurred.
In Cllr Kugan's case, on 9 February 2026, the committee found that a breach had occurred. This was the second such finding.
This is where many residents are surprised — and sometimes frustrated.
Since the Localism Act 2011 abolished the old Standards Board regime, councils in England lost the power to suspend or disqualify councillors for conduct breaches. Cllr Kugan cannot be removed from office by the committee.
What the Audit, Governance and Standards Committee can do includes:
Critically, none of these sanctions can force a councillor to resign or prevent them from voting on council business.
A single finding of breach is significant. A second finding is more so — not because the legal consequences automatically escalate, but because it demonstrates a pattern.
The committee will have been aware this was a second finding when deciding on sanctions. Whether that awareness resulted in stronger measures than a first breach would attract is something residents are entitled to know.
The meeting took place on 9 February 2026. The minutes, once published, should detail what sanctions were applied. If they have not yet been published in full, that is itself worth noting.
What were the specific sanctions imposed? The committee's decision should be fully documented in the published minutes. Residents deserve to know exactly what consequences followed.
What was the nature of the breach — both times? The code exists to protect residents, officers, and fellow councillors. Understanding what conduct was found to be in breach matters.
Is the current system strong enough? The post-2011 framework gives standards committees real limitations. Many council-watchers — including the Committee on Standards in Public Life — have argued these powers are too weak. Kingston is not unique in facing this question, but it is a question Kingston residents can legitimately raise.
What role did the Independent Person play? The Independent Person's involvement is a safeguard. Were their views made available to the committee? Did they support the finding?
Will there be any full council discussion? In some authorities, a second breach triggers a debate at full council. There is no requirement for this, but it would allow all 48 Kingston councillors — and the public — to consider the matter collectively.
Kingston is heading into full council elections on 7 May 2026. Voters will be choosing from the full slate of candidates across all 19 wards.
How a council handles misconduct — not just whether it investigates, but how transparently it communicates findings and whether sanctions are meaningful — is a reasonable measure of its governance culture.
The fact that the standards process exists and was used is to the council's credit. The fact that this is a second finding for the same councillor, under a sanctions regime with limited teeth, is a legitimate cause for scrutiny.
If you want to know more about the specific sanctions imposed on Cllr Kugan, or if you have concerns about councillor conduct more broadly, you do not have to wait for the next election.
Message your councillor directly through Council Clarity. You can ask them how they voted at the Audit, Governance and Standards Committee, what sanctions were applied, and whether they believe the current standards regime gives Kingston residents adequate protection. Every message sent through Council Clarity is logged, and councillors are expected to respond. Use it.
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