Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence from Members.

There were no apologies for absence.

To receive information on any changes in the membership of the Committee.

Note – When a member of a Committee is unable to attend a meeting of a Committee or Sub-Committee, the relevant Political Group Leader (or their nominated representative) may, by notice to the Monitoring Officer (or their nominated representative) prior to the meeting, appoint a substitute member from within the same Political Group. The contact details on the front of this agenda should be used for notifications.

There were no substitute Members.

Councillors are requested to declare any interests on items included in this agenda. Please refer to the workflow on the preceding page for guidance.

Declarations received will be reported at the meeting.

There were no declarations of interest.

To confirm and sign as a correct record the minutes of the Meeting held on 15 December 2021.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Committee on 15 December 2021, as circulated with the agenda as a Supplemental Agenda pack, were confirmed as a correct record.

To receive any public questions, statements or petitions submitted in accordance with the Constitution, which is available to view at the following link:-

https://democracy.bcpcouncil.gov.uk/ieListMeetings.aspx?CommitteeID=151&Info=1&bcr=1

The deadline for the submission of public questions is 4 clear working days before the meeting.

The deadline for the submission of a public statement is midday the working day before the meeting.

The deadline for the submission of a petition is 10 working days before the meeting.

There were no public issues.

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 meeting in October 2021.

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 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 Committee was reminded of its responsibility 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 process for consideration of complaints was set out and the Committee was advised that the arrangements now also included an initial filtering process to be undertaken by the Monitoring Officer with the aim of identifying a mutually agreeable remedy as an alternative, where possible, to preceding through the formal process.

The Committee was provided with an update on complaints alleging breaches of the Code of Conduct against Councillors received or concluded since the last meeting in October 2021.

It was noted that certain specific detailed information regarding pending complaints had not been provided where to do so might be prejudicial to the conduct of the ongoing complaints process. Similarly, unless specific direction to the contrary had been expressed, personal details had also not been included to protect both the identity of Councillors and the complainant.

The Committee received the following updates on specific complaints which had arisen since publication of the schedule of complaints set out with the agenda. In respect of complaint reference BCP-039, it was noted that an apology had been made to the complainant in accordance with the previous decision of the Committee and the case had now been closed. In respect of complaint reference BCP-067, it was reported that the additional information requested from the complainant by the Monitoring Officer by the end of January remained outstanding and was being pursued.  In respect of complaint reference TPC-006, it was noted that the Monitoring Officer had decided that the complaint could be resolved through an apology.

The Committee considered the full schedule of complaints and

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

Voting: Unanimous