“Protected characteristics or socio-economic circumstances.” From 5 January 2026, that exact wording will sit in Wales’s councillor code and principles, alongside changes to who can serve on standards committees. The statutory update is tightly focused but practical for town halls.

Signed by Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government Jayne Bryant MS on 19 November 2025 and laid on 21 November, the Local Government (Standards Committees and Member Conduct) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Wales) Regulations 2025 (WSI 2025/1217) amend the 2001 Standards Committees Regulations, the 2001 Conduct Principles Order and the 2008 Model Code Order. They come into force on Monday 5 January 2026, according to legislation.gov.uk.

The headline change is to Principle 7 and the Model Code: the older list-gender, race, disability, sexual orientation, age or religion-gives way to a broader duty of equality and respect framed around “protected characteristics or socio-economic circumstances”. “Protected characteristics” is lifted directly from section 4 of the Equality Act 2010, so HR and monitoring officers will recognise the legal baseline.

It’s worth spelling out the nuance for members: socio-economic status is not one of the nine protected characteristics under the Equality Act. Welsh guidance on the Socio-economic Duty also notes the Equality and Human Rights Commission does not enforce that duty as if “socio-economic discrimination” existed in UK law. Wales is setting an expectations bar in conduct, not creating a new cause of action.

On committee membership, the Regulations open the door for ex-councillors and ex-officers to serve as independent members-then build in cooling‑off periods to protect confidence. Former leaders, cabinet or executive members must wait five years before joining the standards committee of the authority where they held that role; other former members face a two‑year wait. The same two‑ and five‑year structure applies to corporate joint committees.

Ex-officers are also covered. Anyone who held a politically restricted post-or served as a registration officer-must wait two years before sitting as an independent member in the same authority (or relevant corporate joint committee). The Regulations also pin down definitions for “politically restricted post”, “registration officer” and what counts as a “senior, cabinet or executive” post such as council chair, mayor, executive leader or scrutiny chair.

Why it matters on our side of the border: Northern councils work with Welsh authorities on transport, skills and emergency planning across the Dee and along the A55 corridor. If your authority collaborates through joint arrangements, recruits independent standards members who’ve served in Wales, or supports members on Welsh bodies, these Welsh rules will shape eligibility and training from early January.

The practical to‑do list is short and achievable. Monitoring officers should refresh recruitment packs for independent members, adjust advert copy to reflect the two‑ and five‑year waits, and update induction materials so members understand the new line on class and poverty as part of respectful conduct. Book code refresher sessions for early January and make sure cross‑border partnerships pick this up too.

For the avoidance of doubt on costs and paperwork, the Welsh Government says it has prepared a regulatory impact assessment, available from its Local Government Division and published on gov.wales. That signals a modest, administrative lift rather than a wholesale overhaul.

Bottom line: this is a tidy, values‑driven tune‑up. Wales keeps the Equality Act’s protected characteristics as the legal anchor, adds a plain‑English nod to socio‑economic fairness, and puts sensible distance between recent power‑holders and watchdog roles. Northern officers working with Welsh partners should be ready by 5 January.