Agenda and draft minutes

The Committee resolved to exclude the public from the meeting during discussion of the following item on the grounds that if members of the public were present it was likely that, given the nature of the business to be transacted, that there would be disclosure to them of exempt information within the meaning of paragraph 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 which could reveal information relating to an individual.

To consider the attached Intial Assessment Report (containing exempt information and not available to the press or public).

The Sub-Committee had met to consider four allegations that Councillor A had breached the Members’ Code of Conduct. Complaints had been received from Councillor B, Councillor C and two members of the general public, complainants D and E. All four complaints related to comments made by Councillor A in a newspaper interview which all four complainants alleged brought the Council into disrepute.

The Sub-Committee were advised that the complaints could be divided in to two categories, those which related to the comments made when carrying out, or appearing to act in a capacity as a Councillor, and those which related to private behaviour which would include party political matters.

The Sub-Committee concluded that those complaints relating to possible selection of constituency candidates fell outside their jurisdiction and decided that no further action was possible. The Sub-Committee did, however, consider that the comments made in the newspaper interview warranted further investigation and required the Monitoring Officer to formally investigate that element of the allegations and, upon completion of the investigation to report thereon to a Consideration Sub-Committee.