Complaint 2023/12
Initial complaint report attached.
Exempt in accordance with paragraphs 1 and 10.
Additional documents:
Minutes:
This item was exempt in accordance with paragraphs 1 and 10.
Consideration was given to two complaints about the same matter which alleged a parish councillor had breached the code of conduct. It was noted that the parish councillor had been requested to apologise but didn’t feel their actions had caused upset and had refused to do so.
Members agreed that the subject member had been acting in their capacity as a councillor when the alleged actions took place and felt that, regardless of whether the upset caused had been intentional, they should be aware of the effect that their comments had had. The committee also considered it important that one of the complaints had been made by a professional body. Concern was expressed that a councillor was operating in a position which would usually be undertaken by a paid employee, particularly when the position required a great deal of sensitivity.
It was moved by Councillor O’Shea and seconded by Councillor W Crooks that the matter constituted a breach of the code of conduct and that the subject member be formally requested to apologise, that the parish council be recommended to employ a paid member of staff in the role rather than a councillor, and that condolences be sent to the complainant. Upon being put to the vote, the motion was CARRIED and it was unanimously
RESOLVED –
(i) The subject member be requested to send a written apology to the main complainant;
(ii) The parish council be recommended to employ a paid member of staff in the role rather than a councillor;
(iii) Condolences be sent to the subject member.
Having declared a personal interest in the following item, Councillor Allen left the meeting at 6.52pm.