Agenda item

Motion of Censure

Report to follow.

Minutes:

Council considered a report from the Deputy Monitoring Officer, presented by the Independent Chair of the Standards Committee, advising that the Standards Sub-Committee at its hearing held 25 April 2023, had considered a report by the investigating officer which had concluded that Councillor Lawrence Nichols had breached the Authority’s Code of Conduct in relation to the matters identified. The Standards Sub-Committee had decided that the following sanctions would be put in place: a public apology would be made at the next convenient meeting of Full Council; and at the next convenient meeting of the Council a formal motion would be put before the Chamber to consider censure.

 

It was proposed by Councillor Williams and seconded by Councillor McLuskey and resolved that the public and press be excluded during the discussion of this item, in accordance with paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

 

A recorded vote was requested by Councillor A McLuskey.

 

For (0):

 

Against (21):

M Arnold, E Baldock, S Beatty, M Beecher, S Bhadye, M Bing Dong, H Boparai, M Buck, T Burrell, J Caplin, S Dunn, A Gale, D Geraci, M Gibson, K Grant, S Gyawali, A McLuskey, K Rutherford, J Sexton, J Turner, H Williams

Abstain (11):

M Attewell, C Bateson, J Boughtflower, L Brennan, R Chandler, K Howkins, N Islam, M Lee, A Mathur, L Nichols, D Saliagopoulos

 

Council resolved to not censure Councillor L Nichols.

 

Councillor Nichols made the following statement to Council:

 

“In April last year I misaddressed an email containing confidential information to two external email addresses.  The Standards Committee have determined that this action was accidental but considered it to be reckless, in that I should have taken greater care – a finding that I accept.  Accordingly, I apologise to the Council for this error on my part and undertake to ensure that this doesnot happen again”.

 

The meeting adjourned at 20:23.

 

The meeting reconvened at 20:45.

 

In accordance with Standing Order 23.4, it was moved by the Mayor, seconded and resolved that Councillor A McLuskey not be heard further.

 

Councillor A McLuskey left the meeting at 20:52.

 

Supporting documents: