Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors C Allen, Cartwright, J Crooks, W Crooks, Hollick and O’Shea, with the following substitutes authorised in accordance with council procedure rule 10:

Councillor R Allen for Councillor C Allen

Councillor Bools for Councillor Cartwright

Councillor Bray for Councillor J Crooks

Councillor Harris for Councillor O’Shea

Councillor Hodgkins for Councillor W Crooks

Councillor L Mullaney for Councillor Hollick.

It was moved by Councillor Cook, seconded by Councillor Lynch and

RESOLVED – the minutes of the meeting held on 2 August be confirmed as a correct record.

Councillor Allen declared a non-pecuniary interest as his company provided a financial service to a parish council of which one of the councillors subject to a complaint considered at the previous meeting was a member.

To present the updated social media guidance and best practice for employees and councillors.

Consideration was given to the updated social media guidance and best practice for employees and councillors. The importance of social media guidance in relation to the code of conduct was noted. It was moved by Councillor Bray, seconded by Councillor Allen and

RESOLVED – the social media policy and guidelines for employees and members be approved.

To provide the annual update in relation to corporate complaints and complaints considered by the Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman and the Housing Ombudsman.

Members received an annual report relating to corporate complaints. It was noted that the council had seen similar trends to other authorities but received relatively few complaints in comparison.

It was reported that since publication of the Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman’s annual letter, a case had been concluded which had found fault in relation to the processing of a planning application and whilst the investigator had not concluded that the outcome of the application would have been any different had it not been for the errors made, recommendations had been made to  review internal processes and record keeping. It was noted that the outcome of the review would be reported to Finance & Performance Scrutiny’s December meeting.

It was moved by Councillor Allen, seconded by Councillor Bools and

RESOLVED – the report be noted.

To consider the passing of a resolution under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 excluding the public from the undermentioned item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1 and 10 of Schedule 12A of the 1972 Act.

On the motion of Councillor Pendlebury seconded by Councillor Bools, it was

RESOLVED – in accordance with section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1 and 10 of Part I of Schedule 12A of that Act.

An update will be provided on complaints 2023/14 and 2023/15 which were considered at the previous meeting.

The Monitoring Officer provided an update on code of conduct complaints, including two considered at the previous meeting.

In relation to complaint 2023/14, the subject member had not apologised and no response had been received to the Monitoring Officer’s emails.

Similarly, no apology had been received in respect of 2023/15 and the subject member had made a complaint about way the matter had been handled. Members were disappointed with the bullying behaviour that had been perpetuated with these actions.

Members expressed frustration with the lack of willingness to apologise in both of these instances. In view of the fact that the government’s intention with the current standards regime was that members should be accountable at the ballot box, members felt it was appropriate to make the information public. It was moved by Councillor Bools, seconded by Councillor Lynch and unanimously

RESOLVED – the decision notices for complaints 2023/14 and 2023/15 be published on the council’s website and press releases be issued.