Agenda item

To review and consult a report by Antony Bygrave the Senior Assurance Officer Complaints

The Committee were being asked to consider the level of resources that Dorset Police and Dorset Council were expending on responding to code of conduct and complaints and allegations of offences committed under the Localism Act 2011 by town and parish councillors. Officers explained the process involved in responding to code of conduct and complaints and allegations and what this entailed.

Whilst it was recognised that most town and parish councils were well-run, and operated effectively, with councillors and employees exemplifying the seven principles of public life.

From the report it was apparent that Shaftesbury had a significantly greater proportion of recorded complaints than any other parish or town council and Members asked the reasoning for this and how this was being addressed.

Officers confirmed that there had been particular longstanding issues with allegations about the conduct of certain Town Councillors, but this was being addressed with the support of the DAPTC.

However, given the disproportionate resources necessary to assess those allegations, the Director considered a different approach was needed. The Chairman considered that the LGA might have a view on how best to assist in addressing this issue so as to benefit the Town Council, its reputation and the residents of the town. In any event he asked that he, the Director, Dorset association of Parish and Town Councils (DAPTC) and relevant officers meet to address this particular issue so a satisfactory resolution could be found.

Members were concerned that available sanctions were insubstantial to meaningfully deter poor behaviour and should be strengthened. The Director explained that the Localism Act limited the sanctions that could be imposed.

Officers confirmed that more emphasis was being placed on the use of social media by councillors and training was available to them on this; designed to raise their self-awareness.

The opportunity was given to the Chief Executive of DAPTC, Neil Wedge, to provide his view on how the Code of Conduct could be best applied. He acknowledged that the majority of parish and town Councils were self-compliant with little cause for concern, but a training programme was available to all new Councillors so that they were readily aware of what expectations were. This programme would be made available to the Committee. It was his intention to raise the profile of the suite of training and advice available to councils, designed to prevent such issues arising.

He hoped too that the interventions mentioned would better manage the issues being experienced in Shaftesbury and looked forward to a close working relationship with Council officers to address any issues that arose.

The Committee hoped that the behaviour of members could be addressed by early and preventative interventions as described as it was in the interest of all that the reputation of those public bodies were maintained and confidence in what they did and how they did it was preserved.

Resolved

That the number and origin of Councillor Code of Conduct complaints and allegations, the resulting resource impacts and additional costs incurred through investigation – having been scrutinised – be noted and what was being done to resolve this, endorsed.

Reason for Decision

To have an awareness of the numbers and origins of Councillor Code of Conduct complaints and the limited scope for organisational learning, and to challenge whether the Code of Conduct policy is genuinely being used in the public interest.