West Northamptonshire Council will require all members to receive Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks.
Council leader Adam Brown said residents, charities and councillors had called for the policy after five women alleged they had been assaulted by the council’s former leader, Jonathan Nunn.
Mr Nunn resigned as leader in April following the allegations, which he denies.
He previously admitted assaulting his then wife in 2004, for which he received a community order.
A new policy at West Northamptonshire means councillors being considered for any committee involved in decisions on social services or education functions will be required to receive an enhanced DBS check, while other councillors will receive a basic check.
The council said its monitoring officer and chief executive would decide how to deal with a DBS certificate containing any cautions, convictions, reprimands, warnings or information held by police.
It estimated the policy would cost £3,000.
Last year, a national review concluded that all unitary and upper-tier authorities should require DBS checks for members of committees that make decisions on services for children or vulnerable adults.
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