Agenda and minutes

It was proposed and seconded that Mrs P. Posnett MBE CC be appointed Chairman. There were no other nominations.

Mrs P. Posnett CC in the Chair

There were no urgent items of business.

There were no declarations of interest.

The public are likely to be excluded from the meeting during the consideration of the following item of business in accordance with Section 100(a) of the Local Government Act 1972:

·       Complaint under the Members’ Code of Conduct against an elected Member of the County Council.

It was moved by the Chairman, seconded and carried:

“That under Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972 the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1 and 10 of Part I of Schedule 12(A) of the Local Government Act 1972”.

The Panel considered an exempt report of the Monitoring Officer regarding the outcome of an early assessment undertaken by her in respect of a complaint made about the conduct of an elected member. The report indicated the available options to the Panel under the Council’s Code of Conduct.   A copy of the report is filed with these minutes.

The Deputy Monitoring Officer, as adviser to the Panel, confirmed that the Member who was the subject of the complaint (the Member) had submitted some initial comments for the Panel to consider and a copy of this had been circulated.

The Monitoring Officer confirmed that the Member had been notified of the details of the external independent person appointed and advised of the right to contact them to seek their views regarding the complaint made against them.  

The Chairman welcomed Mr Gough, the independent person, to the meeting.  Mr Gough outlined his discussions with the Member who he had met at the Member’s request.

RESOLVED:

(a)  That the early assessment report of the Monitoring Officer be accepted;

(b)  That the complaint received against the elected member be referred for investigation. 

REASONS:

The Panel felt it was appropriate for an investigation to be undertaken in light of the serious nature of the accusations made by the complaint and the potential involvement of others who had not had an opportunity to rebut or otherwise comment so far.  The Panel also noted the Member’s comments submitted to the meeting and their concern to ensure they had an opportunity to put forward their case.