[To consider the Investigating Officer's Final Reports in relation to a number of complaints made in 2009 and 2010 against members of the Labour Group.]
Minutes:
There were two sets of complaints to be considered.
Further to a referral from the Standards Assessment Sub-Committee in September 2009, the Committee was asked to give consideration, under Regulation 17 of the Standards Committee (England) Regulations 2008, to a number of complaints made against members of the Council in relation to actions and behaviour during the Full Council meeting held on 29th July 2009.
The second set of complaints related to the meeting of Full Council on 20th January and other associated matters had been considered by the Standards Assessment Sub-Committee on 3rd March 2010. The decision of the Standards Assessment Sub-Committee was that the matters be referred to Standards for England for investigation. Following initial acceptance of these, Standards for England subsequently referred the matters back to the Monitoring Officer with a direction that they be included as part of the ongoing local complaints relating to the 29th July 2009 meeting of Full Council.
The Investigating Officer had produced two reports for each of the Councillors concerned. The first report dealt with the matters arising from the meeting of the Full Council held on 29th July 2009 and the second report related to the meeting of the Full Council held on 20th January 2010 and linked issues.
The Investigating Officer responded to Members’ questions and provided clarification on the issues raised. Following a detailed and considered debate and further questioning on the Investigating Officer’s comprehensive reports it was:
RESOLVED:
In relation to the 2009 Complaints
(a) that the Investigating Officer’s findings of no failure (“a finding of acceptance”) in relation to the allegations against all bar one of the Councillors, as detailed in the Investigating Officers final report, to comply with the Code of Conduct of Bromsgrove District Council in relation to their actions at the meeting of the Full Council on 29th July 2009 be accepted; and
(b) that the Investigating Officer’s finding of a failure in relation to the allegations against one Councillor, as detailed in the Investigating Officers final report, to comply with the Code of Conduct of Bromsgrove District Council in relation to their actions at the meeting of the Full Council on 29th July 2009, be considered at a hearing of the Standards Committee.
RESOLVED:
In relation to the 2010 Complaints
(a) that the Investigating Officer’s findings of no failure (“a finding of acceptance”) in relation to certain allegations against the Councillors, as detailed in the Investigating Officers final report, to comply with the Code of Conduct of Bromsgrove District Council in relation to their actions at the meeting of the Council on the 19th January 2010 and 20th January 2010 be accepted; and
(b) that the Investigating Officer’s findings of failure in relation to certain other allegations against the Councillors, as detailed in the Investigating Officers final report, to comply with the Code of Conduct of Bromsgrove District Council in relation to their actions at the meeting of the Council on 20th January 2010, be considered at a hearing of the Standards Committee.