Decision details

The Committee received a report that sought authority to recommend to full Council amendments to the adopted procedure for dealing with complaints made under the code of conduct for elected members of the Council. The report also asked the Committee to give delegated authority to the Council’s Monitoring Officer to draft future amendments to the arrangements before submitting to full Council for approval.

The proposed amendments would improve the clarity of the process and provide the Monitoring Officer with the opportunity of dealing with unfound complaints on receipt or to informally resolve complaints at an earlier stage.

The arrangements had been in place for approximately two years and having had some experience of using the procedures when dealing with complaints the Monitoring Officer had highlighted areas for improvement to the early resolution and local resolution stages and provided some clarity about the role of the Independent Person.

Members sought information on how members of the public and Elected Members could complain about a Councillor and asked if a link to the information could be included on the Councils main complaints page on its website.

RESOLVED

1.     That the amended Arrangements for Dealing with Complaints about the Conduct of Elected Members of the Council be recommended to full Council for adoption.

2.     That the Monitoring Officer be given delegated authority to propose draft amendments to the Arrangements for Dealing with Complaints about the Conduct of Elected Members in accordance with the report.

3.     That a link be provided on the Councils main complaint page on its website to the Standards complaints process information.