Agenda and minutes

Resolved – That Councillor Caryl Sydney-Smith be Chair for this meeting of the Assessment Panel.

Members are reminded that at the start of the meeting they should declare any known interests in any matter to be considered, and also during the meeting if it becomes apparent that they have an interest in the matters being discussed.

The Chair reminded members of the need to declare any known interests in any matters to be considered at the meeting. No declarations were made.

Certain items are expected to include the consideration of exempt information and the Standards Committee is, therefore, recommended to resolve "That, in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded during the discussion of the matters referred to in the items listed below, on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information, as defined in the respective paragraph of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act, and the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information".

Resolved – That, in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded during the discussion of the matters referred to in Agenda Item 5 on the grounds that it would involve the likely disclosure of exempt information, as defined in Paragraphs 1 and 2 of Schedule 12A to the Act, and that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information concerned (Minute No. 17 refers).

The Assessment Panel gave consideration to Complaint SBC/143/20 and SBC/144/20 which both related to the same matters and the same Parish Councillor.

With regards to Complaint SBC/143/20, the Panel noted that the Complainant was alleging that the Parish Councillor had failed, or may have failed, to comply with the Member’s Code of Conduct with regards to their accusations against officers at the Parish Council of: abuse of power, intimidation, fraud, libel, corruption, bullying, humiliating, vindictiveness, being evil, recording staff, collusion / lying and slandering. The Complainant alleged that these accusations are false with no factual basis, and the continuation of the allegations is causing reputational damage, causing stress and anxiety and having an impact to the workplace, with clear harassment and bullying from someone in public office.

The Complainant alleged a breach of the Council’s Members’ Code of Conduct on the following grounds:

That the Councillor had failed to comply with the following provisions of the Members’ Code of Conduct:

·       Paragraph 3(1) – You must treat others with respect.

·       Paragraph 3(2) – You must not:

(a) do anything which may cause your authority to breach the Equality Act 2010 or other relevant equality enactments; 

(b) bully any person;

(c) intimidate or attempt to intimidate any person who is or is likely to be—

(i) a complainant,

(ii) a witness, or

(iii) involved in the administration of any investigation or proceedings, in relation to an allegation that a member (including yourself) has failed to comply with his or her authority‘s code of conduct; or

(d) do anything which compromises or is likely to compromise the impartiality of those who work for, or on behalf of, your authority.

·       Paragraph 5. You must not conduct yourself in a manner which could reasonably be regarded as bringing your office or authority into disrepute.

·       Paragraph 6(a). You must not use or attempt to use your position as a member improperly to confer on or secure for yourself or any other person, an advantage or disadvantage.

·       Paragraph 8(1). You have a personal interest in any business of your authority where either— (b) a decision in relation to that business might reasonably be regarded as affecting your well-being or financial position or the well-being or financial position of a relevant person to a greater extent than the majority of other council tax payers, ratepayers or inhabitants of the ward affected by the decision.

·       Paragraph 9(1). Subject to sub-paragraphs (2) to (7), where you have a personal interest in any business of your authority and you attend a meeting of your authority at which the business is considered, you must disclose to that meeting the existence and nature of that interest at the commencement of that consideration, or when the interest becomes apparent

With regards to Complaint SBC/144/20, the Panel noted that the Complainant was alleging that the Parish Councillor had failed, or may have failed, to comply with the Member’s Code of Conduct with regards to their habitual complaining against officers at the Parish Council, which is  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.