In the past few days, the website Local Government Lawyer has run the following stories:

The current system of local monitoring of councillors is not working:

http://localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=20383%3Awatchdog-warns-that-inappropriate-member-conduct-not-dealt-with-effectively&catid=59&Itemid=27

Councillor banned from serving in Cabinet for using false name to send council-friendly texts to local radio station:

http://localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=20383%3Awatchdog-warns-that-inappropriate-member-conduct-not-dealt-with-effectively&catid=59&Itemid=27

The monitoring officer at Barnet Council has left the local authority in the wake of an investigation into how flawed reports were presented to council for decision.

http://localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=20398%3Amonitoring-officer-leaves-barnet-with-westminster-head-of-legal-taking-interim-role&catid=59&Itemid=27

The shape of things to come?

Moral:  Have Monitoring Officers and other senior officers who really understand their jobs and are well qualified to do them,  get principles councillors and punish those who fall short and remove officers who do not meet the required standard.