Agenda item

The Committee considered a report on an alleged breach of the Code of Conduct.

On 7th March 2007 the Standards Board for England had referred to the Monitoring Officer for local investigation under section 60(2) of the Local Government Act 2000 (Standards Board reference: 17438.07) an allegation, made by Councillor Stephen Peters, that Councillor James Duddy had breached the Code of Conduct under Part 1 paragraph 3 (a) of the Code, in relation to an alleged disclosure of confidential information.

A report of the Investigating Officer dated 11th October 2007, which found that Councillor Duddy had not failed to comply with 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 finding that Councillor Duddy had not failed to comply with the Code, or whether it believed there was a case to answer. 

RESOLVEDthat having had regard to:

(a)       the report of the Investigating Officer; and

(b)       the additional papers submitted by Councillor Peters (Appendix H to the Investigating Officer's report),

the Investigating Officer's finding that Councillor James Duddy had not failed to comply with the Code of Conduct be accepted.

The reason for the Committee’s decision was that there was insufficient independent corroborating evidence to substantiate the complaint.