Agenda and minutes

Two parish representatives to be appointed. 

Councillors Peter Connor (Barkston and Syston Parish Council) and Robert Prabucki (Claypole Parish Council) were appointed as parish representatives with voting rights for this meeting.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Richard Dixon-Warren (Haconby and Stainfield Parish Council), Irene Greenwood (Colsterworth and District Parish Council) and Nick Neilson (Market Deeping Parish Council).

Members are asked to declare interests in matters for consideration at the meeting.

No declarations of interest were made.

                                                                                                                  (Enclosure)

The minutes of the meeting held on Monday 19 December 2011 were agreed as a correct record.

The Head of Legal and Democratic Services explained a Lincolnshire-wide officer meeting was called to consider future standards arrangements. A second meeting was scheduled for the week commencing 6 February 2012 to discuss a common approach and process across the county. The Lincolnshire Association of Local Councils were expected to attend the meeting.

Councillors suggested that as part of new arrangements, the outcome of any investigation/hearings should be reported to full Council.

No applications had been received at the time of agenda preparation.

None received.

The Committee was notified that there was one outstanding investigation and one outstanding assessment, which had been adjourned.

                                                                                                                  (Enclosure)

The Chairman introduced the consideration / hearing and explained the procedure that the Committee would follow in considering the complaint. Introductions were made. He asked members to confirm any declarations of interest and established the Committee was quorate.

Both the Complainant, witnesses and the Councillor were present.

It was resolved that:

In accordance with Section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting because of the likelihood, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted, that if members of the public were present, there would be a disclosure to them of exempt information as defined in paragraph 10 of part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

With the press and public excluded, the Monitoring Officer outlined the complaint and the findings of fact following the investigating officer’s investigation. Members were advised that the allegations were investigated under the 2007 Members’ Code of Conduct. It was confirmed that the respondent was a District Councillor at the time the complaint and was bound by the Code when acting in that capacity.

The Complainant alleged that the Councillor breached paragraph 3 (1) of the Code of Conduct by failing to treat others with respect. The Committee had to determine whether the Councillor was acting in his capacity as a Councillor and whether his behaviour constituted disrespect.

The complaint related to an incident that took place on 19 May 2011. The Councillor was querying labelling against a product in a local shop.

The Councillor confirmed that the statement he had given to the investigating officer was accurate and that he had nothing further to add. The Complainant gave her account of the incident, which was supported by witnesses present at the meeting. The investigating officer had also viewed CCTV footage of the incident.

The Councillor explained that the incident occurred just before his first Council meeting and he showed his SKDC badge when asked to identify himself. He admitted stating that he would raise the issue within the Council but explained that his intention was to advise Trading Standards at the County Council.

The Councillor admitted being forthright in his dealings with the Complainant and his frustration might have caused him to allude to his position as a Councillor. The Councillor accepted that on this occasion he had breached the Members’ Code of Conduct. He stated that the incident had led him to review the way he behaved when dealing with members of the public.

The investigating officer’s report highlighted that the Councillor was newly elected and, at the time of the incident, had not received training on the Members’ Code of Conduct. The Code of Conduct was included within the Constitution, a copy of which was given to all members on induction. In response to questions from Committee members, the Councillor stated he had never before held public office and consequently had never been required to abide by a similar code of conduct.

14:59  The Complainant, witnesses, Councillor and investigating  ...  view the full minutes text for item 33.

The meeting was closed at 15:57.