Issue - meetings

To consider an update on Code of Conduct complaints.

The Committee considered a report, set out at Agenda pages 7 to 12, which provided an update on new Code of Conduct complaints reported since the previous meeting of the Committee on 4 July 2018.

The report stated that five new complaints had been received in that period. Appendix A to the report provided a summary of the complaints. The complaints related to a range of issues including Member conduct at public meetings, comments on social media and a planning matter.

The report also gave details of the powers available to the Monitoring Officer to investigate and resolve complaints. Under the Council’s Constitution the Monitoring Officer had delegated authority to decide whether complaints:

a)        Could be resolved informally, e.g. by mediation;

b)        Required investigation;

c)         Should be referred to the Standards Committee;

d)        Did not require any further action to be taken.

Andrew Moulton, Monitoring Officer, confirmed that more detailed feedback would be provided to complainants and other interested parties in cases where no further action was to be taken.

The Committee considered any trends amongst the complaints and any training and/or communication issues arising. Members also considered any matters arising from the Member training session held before the meeting.

RESOLVED: That the update report on complaints and feedback on Code of Conduct issues be noted.