Agenda item

To review the Code Conduct Complaints Summary.

The Monitoring Officer presented the Code of Conduct Complaint Summary submitted and dealt with since July 2020.

She recommended that the Committee:

• Accepted the report
• Considered whether to refer the report with any further recommendations to Full Council for consideration.

The Independent Person said:

·         The report made grim reading despite the robust complaints system in place

·         A number of the complaints were “tit for tat”

·         There were very few complaints from the general public

·         There were a number of complaints against Parish Councils

·         Some of the complaints were valid, and some not

·         During the two year period covered, the cost of staff employed investigating the thirty seven complaints was in the region of £150k-£200k. This money would be far better spent within constituencies

·         The Independent Persons worked tirelessly to achieve full resolution, but certain Parish Councils would not adhere to the process

·         There had been some success bringing about informal resolution to save money and limit damage to the reputation of the authorities involved

She asked Members to carefully provide guidance to the parishes to ensure Parish Councils are recognised for the good work they do.

The Monitoring Officer said that a further four complaints had come in since the report was published, bringing the total number to forty one. She said that it was worth noting that twenty two were dismissed, took up an awful lot of time and didn`t amount to anything. She said that the vast bulk of Parish Councils operated effectively within the Code of Conduct and that broadly speaking this report covered only three Parish Councils.

Members discussed the need:

• To encourage Members to discuss the Code of Conduct with Parish Councils
• To contact Clerks to introduce further discussion about the Code of Conduct
• To provide training to Members, possibly through a webinar which could be accessed at the Members convenience
• To identify to the individuals that they were spending public money erratically without concern

Following questions from Members the Monitoring Officer said:

• That the LGA have prepared a training package which could be rolled out to Members.
• When complaints do not meet the public interest test for progression, but involved unacceptable behaviour, there were mechanisms in place, but that they were not very effective. She said that mechanisms needed to be called out by Members where necessary
• The Council did not have the power to compel conflicted Parish Council Chairs and Clerks to accept support and assistance, although they could engage with their independent bodies, who varied in efficiency
• An invoice had been forwarded to a particularly entrenched authority to demonstrate the extremity of the situation, but no response had been forthcoming.
• The details of the costs incurred were in the public domain
• Individuals making persistent vexatious complaints could be invoiced, but could not be pursued for payment of the invoice

Councillor Khan proposed approval of the recommendations as set out on the agenda.

This was seconded by Councillor Light.

This was unanimously approved.

RESOLVED:

·        To accept the report

·        To refer the report with any further recommendations to Full Council for consideration