Agenda and draft minutes

To consider whether the public should now be excluded from the remainder of the meeting on the grounds that it is likely that, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, if members of the public were present during these items there would be disclosure to them of exempt information within the meaning of paragraph 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972; and, if it is decided to exclude the public on these grounds, the Hearings Panel to resolve accordingly on the motion of the Chairman.

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.

Following the meeting of the Initial Assessment Panel held on 17 September, 2013 the Monitoring Officer had appointed an Investigating Officer to formally investigate those elements of the complaints which related to the comments made in the newspaper interview.

We agreed that Councillor A be given an opportunity to provide a response to the Investigating Officers report. This opportunity was declined and both Councillor A and the Investigating Officer were asked to leave whilst we made our deliberations.

 We have accepted the recommendation of the Investigating Officer that Councillor A had not breached the Code of Conduct. However, we have asked the Monitoring Officer to speak to Councillor A explaining that to engage in a public dispute such as this, even if not in his capacity as a councillor could bring the Council in to disrepute.

The Chairman abstained from voting on these decisions.