Around a third of councillors did not complete their mandatory safeguarding and/or code of conduct training last year.

Out of 63 elected Redbridge councillors, 23 – or 36.5 per cent – including some high-profile figures, did not complete the required safeguarding modules.

Over the same period, 19 councillors, or just over 30 per cent, failed to complete their compulsory code of conduct training.

Councillors who have not carried out safeguardian training:

  • Linda Huggett
  • Ashley Kissin
  • Shakil Ahmed
  • Mohammad Ahmed
  • Mustaq Ahmed
  • Emma Best
  • David Bromiley
  • Paul Canal
  • Hugh Cleaver
  • Robert Cole
  • C. Cummins (no first name given on council website)
  • Gwyneth Deakins
  • John Fairley-Churchill
  • Jeevah Haran
  • Muhammed Javed
  • Tom McLaren
  • James O’Shea
  • Karen Packer
  • Keith Prince
  • Tom Sharpe
  • Wes Streeting
  • Robin Turbefield
  • Barbara White

Councillors who have not completed code of conduct training

  • Linda Huggett
  • Shakil Ahmed
  • Mohammad Ahmed
  • Emma Best
  • David Bromiley
  • Aziz Choudhury
  • C. Cummins (no first name given on council website)
  • Gwyneth Deakins
  • John Fairley-Churchill
  • Jeevah Haran
  • Muhammed Javed
  • Brian Lambert
  • Suzanne Nolan
  • James O’shea
  • Tom Sharpe
  • Singh Bola
  • Wes Streeting
  • Robin Turbefield
  • Barbara White

The figures were published as part of an attendance report for the upcoming council meeting on Thursday evening.

The government has enforced safeguarding legislation to prevent the neglect, abuse and exploitation of children and vulnerable adults.

The council has a responsibility to safeguard those in its care, those in its education system and failing to do can be very serious.

In the meantime, the councillors’ code of conduct gives details of what a councillor can or cannot do as part their role; including how to behave, expectations they are required to meet and how they handle or declare their interests and expenses.

The code of conduct is designed to keep councillors in check, acting to hold them accountable and should be taken seriously.

A council spokesman said: “Forty councillors have completed the safeguarding training, including all members on the cabinet, people scrutiny committee and education scrutiny committee so there are sufficient trained members to serve at meetings considering these matters.

“But we will be encouraging all members to undertake this training so they are able to sit on committees that consider safeguarding issues.

“We revised the code of conduct training last municipal year and not all councillors completed this but it is expected by the end of this month all re-elected and new councillors will have done so.”