Issue - meetings

This report provides Members with an update on complaints regarding alleged breaches of the Code of Conduct against councillors received or concluded since the last report to the Committee in January 2024.

The Committee is responsible for maintaining high standards of conduct by Members of BCP Council and the Town and Parish Councils, monitoring the operation of the Code of Conduct, and considering the outcome of commissioned independent investigations.

The Monitoring Officer presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'B' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

The report provided an update on complaints regarding alleged breaches of the Code of Conduct against councillors received or concluded since last brought to the Committee in January 2024. Details of allegations/complaints were outlined in the table set out in paragraph 8 of the report. Cases which were shown as closed in the previous report had been removed.

Committee Members and Independent Persons supported a suggestion received since the publication of the report, to include the associated dates relating to each complaint so that it was easier to identify which were legacy complaints and which fell within current timescales. The Chair explained that it was also proposed to include a summary of complaints received and dismissed to provide a better oversight of the amount of work dealt with. The Monitoring Officer indicated that this information could be set out in a separate table to also include the number of queries received.

In response to a question the Monitoring Officer explained the procedures followed in assessing and progressing complaints as set out in the appendix to the Code of Conduct in Part 6 of the Council’s Constitution. The Monitoring Officer agreed to clarify with members after the meeting the rationale for closing complaint reference TPC011.

The Chair placed on record thanks to both Independent Persons, Mr Paul Cashmore and Mr Ian Sibley, for their work in the consideration of complaints.

RESOLVED that the outcome of concluded complaints and the progress of those still outstanding be noted.

Voting: Unanimous