Agenda item

To consider the attached report.

Contact Officer:  Nick Graham, Service Director, Legal and Democratic/ Glenn Watson, Principal Governance Officer.

The Committee received the Member Code of Conduct Complaints Quarterly Review. The report provided a review of the Member Code of Conduct complaints that were opened and then closed during Quarter 2. This would normally be for the period July to September. As the Committee did not meet in October, the report brings the information up to date for November 2022. Similarly, the report updated the Committee on currently open complaints. As requested by the Committee, the annexes included information on the number of parish councils involved; and the number of individuals who were the subject of open complaints.

It was noted that Buckinghamshire Council would continue to provide training to both Buckinghamshire Councillors as well as town and parish Councillors. Bespoke training had been issued to individual Parish Councils in addition to specific training delivered with the Local Association of Councils.

The Service Director of Legal and Democratic Services informed the Committee of the national initiative by the National Association of Local Councils regarding civility and public life. The Committee had previously looked at social media in regard to complaints and reviewed the guidance issued. In light of the national guidance from the Association of Local Councils, it was suggested that this be revisited in the future.

Previously the Committee had requested additional information within the Quarterly Review to include the number of Parish and Town Councils whose Councillors had attracted complaints, the number of different individuals subject to complaint, and more details regarding the complaints. The Committee noted that these had been provided in the Quarter 2 report. During the meeting, it was requested that information regarding the outcomes and remedies from upheld complaints be included in future reports where possible.

Annex 1 in the Committee report contained information on closed Parish and Town Council complaints over Quarter 2 (July 2022 onwards including October). 5 Parish Councils attracted 8 complaints, where had been closed. 1 Parish Council accounted for 3 of these complaints, whilst another Parish Council accounted for 2. Overall, 7 individuals had been involved in those particular complaints and 1 individual had been complained about twice.

Annex 2 concerned closed complaints about Buckinghamshire Council. In total, 2 Councillors had received complaints.

Annex 3 set out the complaints that were currently open. This showed 9 complaints currently open, relating to 3 individuals. 1 Parish Councillor received 3 complaints and would be the subject of a Stage 3 hearing. 5 complaints related to 1 Buckinghamshire Councillor. The remaining complaint also concerned a Buckinghamshire Councillor.

Each annex gave a corresponding summary of the code principle relating to the alleged breach. Similarly to the previous quarter and the past year, the main reason for complaints had been perceived disrespect. A couple of instances had concerned alleged instances of bullying Parish Council Officers or the suggestion of a conflict of interest. It was noted that no breaches had been identified within the closed complaints.

RESOLVED:

1)      To note and comment upon the Quarter 2 report into Member Code of Conduct Complaints that were opened and then closed in that period, as at Annexes 1-2.

2)      To note and comment upon the Member Code of Conduct complaints currently open, as at Annex 3.