Issue - meetings

The subject member has continued to fail to engage with the Monitoring Officer in relation to this matter for which a ‘Fact finding’ report was presented to the previous meeting. That fact finding report is attached for your information and members are asked to advise on how to proceed with this matter, given that an investigation would not provide any additional evidence.

Members were presented with a copy of a fact finding report which had been presented to the previous meeting. It was explained that the complaint under consideration was about Earl Shilton Town Councillor Alan Greenwood’s failure to co-operate with an investigation into a previous complaint, and the last committee had referred the matter for investigation. The Monitoring Officer reported that, since that meeting, the councillor had not responded to any attempted contact.

Concern was expressed with regard to an elected representative being unwilling to co-operate with an investigation, making it difficult to enable them to be accountable for their actions. Members felt strongly that there had been a breach of the Code of Conduct and that Councillor Greenwood should not be able to avoid proper scrutiny by not responding to the Monitoring Officer, but they did feel that a full hearing to consider the matter would be counterproductive as, without the attendance of the subject member, no conclusion could be drawn.

The committee therefore gave consideration to the options available under ‘other action’. It was felt that the case should be publicised to ensure transparency and public accountability, and that a strongly worded letter should be sent to the subject member, with a copy to the Town Council recommending removal of Councillor Greenwood from positions of responsibility on the authority, the wording of such a letter to be agreed with the Chairman.

It was moved by Councillor Camamile, seconded by Councillor Witherford and

RESOLVED – ‘Other action’ be taken in respect of Councillor Greenwood having breached the Code of Conduct. Such action to consist of:

(a)          The decision on the matter being published;

(b)          A strongly worded letter, to be agreed with the Chairman, being sent to Councillor Greenwood, with a copy to the Town Council.

‘Fact finding’ report attached.

A fact finding report was presented to the committee. It was moved by Councillor Moore, seconded by Councillor Lynch and

RESOLVED – complaint 2015-02 be referred to the Monitoring Officer for investigation.