Agenda and minutes

To elect a Chairman for the meeting.

Councillor  Lacey Clarke was elected as Chairman for the meeting of the Sub-committee.

To receive any apologies for absence.

No apologies for absence were received at the meeting.

To receive any declarations of interest.

No declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests were made at the meeting.

The Monitoring Officer advised the Sub-Committee that follwing a conversation with a councillor he had given advice that as Dorset councillors they were perfectly entitled to sit and consider the assessment of a complaint about a councillor of the same group or other group.

To note the Sub-Committee’s terms of reference:

Audit and Governance (Assessment) Sub-Committees for the consideration of Code of Conduct issues

(a)  The Audit and Governance Committee shall arrange that, to the extent it is called upon to determine any allegation relating to a Member Code of Code (including that of a Town Council or a Parish Council), the determination shall be made by a Sub-Committee of the Audit and Governance Committee. An Audit and Governance Sub-Committee with such responsibility may include non-Members. An Audit and Governance Sub-Committee that has non-Members forming part of it shall not have any power relating to the regulation and/or control of the finances of the Council.

(b)  Substitutes may only be appointed to an Audit and Governance Sub- Committee from the membership of the Audit and Governance Committee. There shall be no power to appoint non-Member substitutes.

To note the Dorset Council Member Complaints Process (attached).

All present noted the Assessment Sub-committee Terms of Reference and Dorset Council Member Complaint process.

To consider any items of business which the Chairman has had prior notification and considers to be urgent pursuant to section 100B (4) b) of the Local Government Act 1972. The reason for the urgency shall be recorded in the minutes.

There were no urgent items of business.

To move the exclusion of the press and the public for the following item in view of the likely disclosure of exempt information within the meaning of paragraphs 1 and 2 of schedule 12 A to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

The public and the press will be asked to leave the meeting whilst the item of business is considered.

Decision

That the press and the public be excluded for the following item(s) in view of the likely disclosure of exempt information within the meaning of paragraph 1 of schedule 12 A to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).  

To consider an exempt report by the Monitoring Officer. NOT FOR PUBLICATION

The Monitoring Officer advised members that the complainant had now withdrawn this complaint following the resignation of the councillor.

To consider an exempt report by the Monitoring Officer. NOT FOR PUBLICATION

The sub-committee noted a range of complaints that had been made against a number of councillors that had been received by the Monitoring Officer.

Decision

1. That the complainants be informed that no further action is to be taken in connection with one of the complaints.

2. That the Monitoring Officer appoint an officer of the Council to investigate two of the complaints.

3.That the Monitoring Officer offered to meet with one of the complainants, a councillor the Mayor and Town Clerk but for no investigation to take place.

To consider an exempt report by the Monitoring Officer. NOT FOR PUBLICATION.

The sub-committee noted two complaints against a councillor that had been received by the Monitoring Officer.

Decision

That the Monitoring Officer appoint an officer of the Council to investigate both complaints individually.

To consider an exempt report by the Monitoring Officer.  NOT FOR PUBLICATION.

The sub-committee noted a complaint against a councillor that had been received by the Monitoring Officer.

Decision

That the Monitoring Officer seek informal resolution between the parties.

To consider an exempt report by the Monitoring Officer. NOT FOR PUBLICATION.

The sub-committee noted a complaint against a councillor that had been received by the Monitoring Officer.

Decision

That the Monitoring Officer raise with the Town Clerk concerns about unnecessary complexity in the Town Council’s Code of Conduct.

To consider an exempt report by the Monitoring Officer.  NOT FOR PUBLICATION.

The sub-committee noted a complaint against a councillor that had been received by the Monitoring Officer.

Decision

That the Monitoring Officer appoint an officer of the Council to investigate the complaint.