Agenda item

To receive and consider a report from the Head of Legal Services (attached).

The Head of Legal 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 received the regular schedule of completed and ongoing complaints against Councillors with cases shown as closed in the previous report removed from the list. It was noted that, other than three cases referred to elsewhere in the report, there were only two cases shown as pending and that, in both these two cases, further evidence was actively being sought.

The adopted arrangements for dealing with allegations of a breach of the Code of Conduct were set out. These included the arrangements for initial assessment by the Monitoring Officer and the process for determination of complaints by the Chair of the Standards Committee in consultation with Councillors of the Standards Committee and the Independent Persons.

The Committee reviewed the table of complaints setting out, in each case, the nature of the complaint and, where applicable, the Monitoring Officer’s assessment, the decision of the Chair and the current status of the complaint.

RESOLVED that the Standards Committee notes the outcome of concluded complaints and the progress of those identified as pending in the report.

The report also highlighted three complaints where Councillors had not complied with a determination made by the Chair of the Standards Committee following the process of informal resolution.

The Head of Legal responded to questions about the process involved and, in particular, reassurances were provided about the way in which subject Councillors were notified of progress and made aware of the possibility of escalation of complaints. The differing circumstances in respect of each of the quoted complaints were set out within the agenda and the Committee considered each in turn. Where applicable, the subject Councillor’s responses were summarised. The three complaints related to the period of the previous Council before the elections in May 2023 and the Committee was satisfied in each that sufficient time had been allowed for responses from the subject Councillors.

The Committee emphasised the importance of maintaining the credibility of the Committee’s role in considering complaints by ensuring that decisions of the Standards Committee were taken seriously and respected and adhered to by subject Councillors. This view was firmly endorsed by the two Independent Person members of the Committee who were present at the meeting.

The Committee were made aware that should they wish to receive further detail on any of the complaints in addition to the information provided in the report this could be provided in confidential (exempt) business.

Code of Conduct Complaint BCP 97

The Committee received a detailed timeline providing a summary of the response to this complaint and the process by which it had been considered by the Chair and members of the Standards Committee over a significant period of time.

After discussion and consideration it was proposed by Councillor Chapmanlaw, seconded by Councillor Walters and

RESOLVED that Complaint BCP 97 be now the subject of a full report to the Council.

Voting : Unanimous

Code of Conduct Complaint BCP 141

The Committee received a detailed timeline providing a summary of the response to this complaint and the process by which it had been considered by the Chair and members of the Standards Committee over a significant period of time.

After discussion and consideration it was proposed by Councillor Nanova, seconded by Councillor Chapmanlaw and

RESOLVED that Complaint BCP 141 be now the subject of a full report to the Council.

Voting : Unanimous

Code of Conduct Complaint BCP 146

The Committee received a detailed timeline providing a summary of the response to this complaint and the process by which it had been considered by the Chair and members of the Standards Committee over a significant period of time.

After discussion and consideration it was proposed by Councillor Ricketts, seconded by Councillor Walters and

RESOLVED that Complaint BCP 146 be now the subject of a full report to the Council.

Voting : Unanimous