Agenda item

8.1

The Director of Legal and Governance introduced a report providing a summary of the outcome of the 16 complaints received to date in 2017 under the Procedure for Dealing with Standards Complaints regarding City, Parish and Town Councillors and Co-opted Members that was adopted by Full Council at its meeting on 25 March 2015.

8.2

The Director rehearsed the requirements, under the Localism Act 2011, for local authorities to promote high standards of Member conduct, adopt a Code of Conduct, and put in place a process for investigating complaints.  She outlined the Council’s Procedure for Dealing with Standards Complaints, highlighting the three courses of action that were available following initial assessment of the complaint by herself in consultation with one of the Independent Persons, and which were to take no action, take other action through informal resolution, or refer the matter for investigation.

8.3

In terms of “live” complaints, the Director stated that one complaint was awaiting initial assessment, and two complaints from 2016 were to be considered at a meeting of the Consideration Sub-Committee in the near future.

8.4

In response to a query from a Member of the Committee, the Director reported that she had provided training to Members of Ecclesfield and Bradfield Parish Councils on the Members’ Code of Conduct and the Standards Complaints Procedure, and would continue to develop the relationships with all three of the City’s Parish and Town Councils in relation to Member conduct.

8.5

RESOLVED: That the contents of the report now submitted, and the information now reported, be noted.