To consider the report of the Monitoring Officer, (copy enclosed).
Minutes:
The Committee considered the report of the Monitoring Officer that sought a decision from the Committee on the future handling of three complaints together with the two further complaints raised under Item 6. Any Other Items of Business that the Chairman decides are urgent.
Councillor Mrs P A Channer proposed that the first three complaints be investigated utilising the services of both an external Monitoring Officer and an external Investigator. This was duly seconded. A recorded vote was requested and seconded. The chairman put the proposal to the Committee and the result of the recorded vote was as follows:-
For the proposal
Councillors M G Bassenger, Mrs P A Channer, M W Helm, K W Jarvis and S P Nunn.
Against the proposal
Councillor C Mayes and R H Siddall
Abstentions
None
On the Item of Business raised under Agenda Item 6 detailing two further complaints the Independent person advised that if this was an informal meeting then the Code of Conduct had not been engaged, and they could be disregarded. Councillor Mrs P A Channer proposed that neither complaints be investigated. This was seconded by Councillor Helm
Further discussion took place around the nature of the meeting and given the fact that it was convened, minuted and called by the Leader of the Council, Members concluded it was a formal Council meeting.
The Chairman put Councillor Channer’s proposal to the Committee and upon a duly seconded recorded vote being taken the results were as follows:-
For the proposal
Councillors Mrs P A Channer and M W Helm.
Against the proposal
Councillors M G Bassenger, K W Jarvis, C Mayes, S P Nunn and R H Siddall.
Abstentions
None
Councillor C Mayes then requested that both complaints be dealt with separately. She proposed that the Committee not investigate the self-referral complaint, and this was seconded by Councillor Bassenger. The Chairman put the proposal to the Committee and upon a duly seconded recorded vote being taken the results were as follows:-
For the proposal
Councillors M G Bassenger, K W Jarvis, C Mayes, S P Nunn and R H Siddall
Against the proposal
None
Abstentions
Councillors Mrs P A Channer and M W Helm.
Councillor C Mayes then proposed that the second complaint be investigated in relation to integrity and honesty contained in section 3.1 Rules on public Life that form part of the Members’ Code of Conduct. This was seconded by Councillor Siddall. The Chairman put the proposal to the Committee and upon a duly seconded recorded vote being taken the results were as follows:-.
For the proposal
Councillors M G Bassenger, K W Jarvis, C Mayes, S P Nunn and R H Siddall
Against the proposal
None
Abstentions
Councillor Mrs P A Channer and M W Helm.
Helm
Councillor Mrs P A Channer asked that her abstention from both the above votes be minuted as she felt they were one item, both issues were intrinsically linked and therefore should not be dealt with separately.
As with the previous three complaints it was agreed this be investigated by an external Monitoring Officer and an external Investigator.
RESOLVED that with the exception of the self-complaint all four other complaints be investigated, utilising the services of both an external Monitoring Officer and Investigator.