Issue - meetings

The report of the Monitoring Officer sets out an allegation made by way of a complaint against a Borough Councillor concerning a potential breach of the Members’ Code of Conduct.

The Assessment Panel is asked to make a determination in respect of whether or not any action should be taken.

The Panel considered the report of the Monitoring Officer setting out an allegation by way of a complaint received from an officer about Councillor A.

The Monitoring Officer and External Assessor (appointed to carry out the initial assessment) detailed the allegations that had been made and the key considerations for the assessment panel.

The External Assessor clarified that a separate whistleblowing matter referenced within the complaint assessment report would be dealt with separately under the Whistleblowing Policy.

The External Assessor further updated on a point of clarification within paragraph 2.4 of the main covering report.

The Panel went on to consider the complaint having regard to the Assessment Criteria.

The Panel then went on to consider the options open to it:

(a)      the Panel is able to ask the Monitoring Officer to direct that the complaint is investigated;

(b)      to direct the Monitoring Officer to take other appropriate action short of a formal investigation, for instance trying to secure an apology;

(c)       alternatively the Panel can decide to take no action in respect of the complaint; this may be where the complaint appears to be trivial, vexatious, malicious, politically motivated or tit-for-tat.

The Panel also had regard to advice from the Independent Person, and noted that the complaint was not one that the Council would not normally refer for investigation.

It was RESOLVED that the Monitoring Officer be directed to refer the complaint for investigation.