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 July 2025.

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 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 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 July 2025.

The Committee was 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 Committee discussed the report and there was consensus that there should be tougher sanctions for non-compliance of Committee direction and that those complaints should not be categorised as ‘closed’.

In response to a query, the Chair confirmed that there was going to be a review of the process and the procedure for changing the constitution was outlined.  The Chair requested that the review be expedited by the Interim Monitoring Officer to enable the Committee to consider it at its next meeting.

The Deputy Monitoring Officer advised that he would bring a report of non-compliance to the next confidential consultation meeting which was scheduled for the end of October. 

In response to a query, it was highlighted that any determinations of complaints considered at the consultation meeting, would be communicated to the complainants within a week of the meeting.

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

Voting: Nem. Con.