Issue - meetings

[Note: the public will be formally excluded from the meeting at the point at which the Committee makes its deliberations on the above matter and the following resolution will be passed:

"RESOLVED: that under Section 100 I of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended, the public be excluded from the meeting during the Committee's deliberations on the grounds that they will involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 7C of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act, as amended, and that it is in the public interest to do so."]

The Committee considered a report on an alleged failure to follow the Code of Conduct.

On 28th March 2008 the Standards Board for England had referred to the Monitoring Officer for local investigation an allegation, made by Councillor P. M. McDonald, that Councillor P. J. Whittaker had failed to comply with the Code of Conduct, in that following the adoption of the Council's revised Code of Conduct on 18th July 2007 he failed to complete and return his Register of Interests Form within the required 28 days.

A report of the Investigating Officer dated 22nd July 2008, which had found that Councillor Whittaker had failed to comply with Part 3 paragraph 13 (1) of the Code of Conduct, was considered.  The Committee was asked to determine whether, based on the facts set out in the report, it agreed with the Investigating Officer's findings.        

RESOLVED:

(a)       that Councillor Whittaker failed to follow the Code of Conduct by being in breach of Part 3 paragraph 13 (1) in that he did not provide the Monitoring Officer with the Member's Register of Interests Form within 28 days of the Code of Conduct being adopted by the Council; and

(b)       that Councillor Whittaker be suspended as a Councillor for a period of one calendar month, to take effect from 1st November 2008.

(A copy of the Committee's full decision, together with the reasons for it, is appended.)