Agenda and draft minutes

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Contact: Sian Walter-Browne 

Items
No. Item

1.

Election of Chair

The Panel is asked to elect a Chair for the duration of the meeting.

Minutes:

RESOLVED that Councillor Williams be elected Chair for the duration of the meeting.

 

2.

Apologies For Absence

Minutes:

There were no apologies for absence received.

3.

Declarations of Interest

To Receive Declarations of Interest in any Contract or matter to be discussed at the meeting.

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest received.

4.

Exclusion of the Press and Public

That, in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they contain exempt information under paragraphs 1 and 2 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act, and it would not, on balance, be in the public interest to disclose the reports.

Minutes:

RESOLVED that, in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they contain exempt information under paragraphs 1 and 2 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act, and it would not, on balance, be in the public interest to disclose the reports.

5.

Consideration of a Standards Complaint

Minutes:

Consideration was given to information provided by the Director of Legal Services which had required an assessment of complaints related to three Councillors, which said that the Councillor’s Code of Conduct had been breached.

 

The criteria considered in relation to the complaint was:

 

·       Was the complaint about someone who was no longer a Member of the Council but is a Member of another authority?

·       Had the complaint already been the subject of an investigation or other action related to the Code of Conduct?  Similarly, had the complaint been the subject of an investigation by other regulatory authorities?

·       Was the complaint about something that happened so long ago that there would be little benefit in taking action now?

·       Was the complaint too trivial to warrant further action?

·       Did the complaint appear to be simply malicious, politically motivated or tit-for-tat?

 

Members gave consideration to the complaint form, the responses and the options available to them.

 

It was noted that the allegation of electoral fraud had been referred to the Police and was not a matter for this Sub-Committee.

 

RESOLVED that:-

 

1.     In relation to the complaints about a former Councillor, no further action would be taken as they were no longer a Councillor.

2.     In relation to the complaints about conduct as a Governor, no action would be taken, as this post was held in a personal capacity and any conduct did not occur in their capacity as a Councillor.

3.     Consideration of the other complaints would be deferred for further information to be provided in relation to the specific allegations.