Issue - meetings

This report provides a summary of the complaints received and determined which were made against councillors for alleged breaches of the Code of Conduct.

The Standards Committee has a duty to consider an annual report and to promote and maintain high standards of conduct.

The Head of Democratic Services presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'A' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

The report provided a summary of the complaints received and determined which were made against councillors for alleged breaches of the Code of Conduct.

The Standards Committee had a duty to consider an annual report and to promote and maintain high standards of conduct.

The Committee discussed the report including:

·       In response to a query regarding the need for updated training, the Committee was advised that training on the new code of conduct had been undertaken in late 2021 and that a full training schedule post local elections in 2023.  It was also highlighted that social media training had also been provided.

·       It was advised that it appeared that the number of code of conduct complaints had increased generally across local authorities and the possible reasons for this were highlighted

·       The reasons why Councillors and member of the public may complain was discussed, together with the process followed once a complaint had been received including possible sanctions available

·       It was noted that there had been significant changes in the membership of the Committee and the Head of Democratic Services advised he would circulate the LGA Guidance to Committee Members and arrange a training session in relation to the Committees role ACTION

• An Independent Person paid tribute to the Monitoring Officer for informally resolving a number of complaints, thereby reducing the number of complaints being considered by the Committee.

RESOLVED that the annual report on the code of conduct complaints be noted and the following areas be included in the work programme: training needs on social media, new training schedule for 2023, new training session for Committee Members.