Issue - meetings

RECOMMENDED that the Annual Report of the Standards Committee be noted.

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 Deputy Monitoring Officer 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:

• It was highlighted by the Chair that social media still seemed to be a cause of many complaints received.
• In response to a query, the Committee was advised that a breakdown of data was not supplied to parish and town councils due to the low number of complaints.
• The Monitoring Officer highlighted the Community Governance Review and the potential work that may come to Standards Committee depending on its outcome.
• It was highlighted that the low figures in 2023/24 were due to local elections, with a large new cohort of Councillors who attended extensive training.

It was proposed by the Chair, seconded and agreed that the Annual Report should be received at Full Council.

RESOLVED that the Standards Committee accepts its Annual Report and Council will note the Annual Report of the Standards Committee.

Voting: Nem. Con.