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I am curious to know whether there are any legal limits as to the maximum number of close relatives (by birth or marriage) who can seek election and serve as councillors on the same Council, and expecially in the same Ward of the same Town or Parish council.

For example: ****ume that two siblings are town councillors serving in the same Ward of a Council. The husband of one of the siblings wishes to stand for election to fill a vacancy in the same Ward as the other two close relatives. That is to say, if elected, there will be (in this particular case) a husband and wife and the sibling (brother or sister) of (say) the wife who will then all be councillors on the same Council and serving the same Ward. Many people may perceive this as a 'family take-over' of the Council or Ward. This could be problematic (and be seen as 'undemocratic') especially in Council Committees where there are fewer members. If all three manage to serve on the same Committee, there is a danger that the 'family' of three councillors may attempt in effect 'take over' decision making within the Committee. In the larger forum of a full Town or Parish Council, they will represent a smaller 'bloc' but nevertheless, there could exert a significant 'family' influence upon Council  decisions if the three individuals are minded to exert pressure by always (or nearly always) voting the  same way.

Now that the Standards Board has been disbanded, I don't know where else to seek an opinion on the above situation - which by the way - is not 'theoretical. Thank you.