Issue - meetings

This report provides the Standards Committee with the conclusions of the investigation following complaints made about Councillor Beverley Dunlop. The investigator’s report is attached at Appendix 1. The conclusion of the investigator is that Councillor Dunlop did not breach the Code of Conduct, as she was not acting in the capacity of a councillor when posting to the Facebook group which resulted in the complaint.

The Committee is asked to consider the investigator’s report and accept the recommendations.

The Interim 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 the Standards Committee with the conclusions of the independent investigation following complaints made about Councillor Beverley Dunlop. The investigator’s full report had been attached at Appendix 1 and the conclusion of the investigator was that Councillor Dunlop did not breach the Code of Conduct because she was not acting in the capacity of a councillor when posting to the Facebook group which resulted in the complaint.

The Committee noted the length of time taken to bring forward a recommendation to the Committee and there was acceptance of the need to deal more expeditiously with these complaints going forward.

Although there was acceptance of the current situation as set out, there was a view expressed that comments of the type complained of were unacceptable whether they were made in a personal capacity or in the capacity of a Councillor. It was suggested that this potentially provided a perception of being able to avoid censure and the Committee was advised that this was something that was likely to be addressed and clarified within the new Code of Conduct. The Committee welcomed the potential for adoption of a new approach.

The Interim Monitoring Officer undertook to suggest to the newly appointed Monitoring Offer that a report be brought back to a future meeting of the Committee setting out the current legal framework under which the Council was now operating and providing guidance for the Committee. At the same time, there would be an opportunity as well to highlight the different approach understood to be being developed within the new Code.

In the meantime, however, the Committee considered the investigator’s report and it was

RESOLVED that the findings and recommendations of the independent investigator relating to the reported complaint be accepted.

Voting: Unanimous.