Issue - meetings

This report updates the Committee on the complaints against Councillors received since the Monitoring Officer’s last report on 31 October 2023.  The Committee is responsible for promoting and maintaining high standards of conduct by Members of the District and Town & Parish Councils, for monitoring the operation of the Code of Conduct, and for considering the outcome of investigations in the event of breaches of the Code of Conduct.

[15 Minutes]

          Upon the invitation of the Chair, the Monitoring Officer introduced the report, drawing Members attention to the table in paragraph 4.2. He updated the Committee that for complaint 23/3, he had now received confirmation that the subject member was prepared to apologise and so the matter would be dealt with by way of informal resolution. Complaint 23/05 was found to be no breach. Regarding 23/06, an apology had been issued which had been accepted under informal resolution. He had also very recently received 2 further complaints, which would be showing on the Table at the next meeting.

          Upon the Chair inviting questions, it was asked whether there may be benefit to showing totals of complaints for each of the Parish Councils. The Monitoring Officer explained that if there was a trend in one particular Parish, he would bring this as an exempt report to the Committee, however he did not feel stating the Parish would be appropriate as part of the open meeting.

The Committee noted the report.