Agenda and minutes

To receive any disclosures of interest from councillors in accordance with the Council’s Code of Conduct for members.

There were none.

The Panel is asked to consider excluding the press and public from the meeting during consideration of the following item on the grounds that it is likely to involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 2 (Information likely to reveal the identity of an individual) of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

In making its decision, the Panel is asked to confirm that having regard to all circumstances, it is satisfied that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

In this case the proper administration of the complaints procedure in the public interest is that consideration of complaints should not be made public at an early stage, when the complaints may or may not be proved and may or may not be investigated.

The Panel considered whether the press and public should be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following matter on the grounds that it was likely to involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 2 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

The Panel in making its decision had regard to all circumstances and was satisfied that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information.

RESOLVED that in the interest of having a frank and open discussion about the matter, the press and public are excluded from the meeting.

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 a member of the public about the conduct of Councillor A.

The Monitoring Officer detailed the circumstances in which the incident leading to the complaint had taken place, by way of background. He advised that informal resolution of the matter had already been tried and the parties were not amenable.

The Panel also took into consideration the view of the Independent Person as provided in the report. The Panel noted the Independent Person’s view that the case did not appear to involve a breach of the Members’ Code of Conduct and that the public interest would not benefit from the time and cost of further investigation of this complaint.  

The Panel determined, having regard to the Assessment Criteria, that the evidence presented in the complaint did not disclose a possible breach of the Members’ Code of Conduct.

The Panel agreed that the Monitoring Officer should respond to the complainant and that no further investigation was justified.

Resolved that:

1. No further action is necessary in response to the complaint; and

2. the Monitoring Officer be asked to write to the complainant to confirm the Panel’s decision and to draw the case to a close.