Meeting documents

 

 

P Peter Crew	P Reyna Knight
P James Tonkin

 

 

P: Present

A: Apologies for absence submitted

 

Also present (co-opted, non-voting): Ian Carrington-Porter (Independent Lay Person), Bill Bearsby (Independent Parish Councillor)

 

Officers in attendance: Julia Parkes (Corporate Services), Sara Saunders; Solicitor (Corporate Services)

 

SSC 1

Election of Chairman for the Meeting (Agenda item1)

Resolved: that Councillor Peter Crew be elected Chairman for the meeting

 

(Councillor Crew in the Chair)

 

SSC 2

Declaration of Disclosable Pecuniary Interest (Standing Order 37) (Agenda Item 3)

None

 

SSC 3

Minutes of the Meeting held on 24 April 2018 (Agenda Item 4)

Resolved: that the minutes of the meeting be approved as a correct record.

 

SSC 4

Exclusion of Press and Public

Resolved: that the press, public and officers not required to remain during the exempt session by the members or officers advising, be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items of business on the grounds that its consideration will involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined in Section 100I of the Local Government Act 1972.

 

 

 

Item Reason for Exemption

 

Minute no. SSC 5 and SSC 6 Paragraphs 1 and 2 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972

 

 

SSC 5

Complaint against a Parish Councillor (02/2018) (Agenda Item 6)

The Sub-Committee agreed to amend the order of the agenda and consider this matter first.

 

The Sub-Committee considered a complaint received from a Parish Chairman regarding a Parish Councillor, stating that he had breached the Wrington Parish Council Code of Conduct applicable to Parish Councillors.

 

The Deputy Monitoring Officer outlined the complaint.

 

The Sub-Committee considered the complaint, together with the response from the Councillor concerned and received the views of the Independent Lay Person and Independent Parish Councillor.

 

In considering the key issues, the Sub-Committee concluded that the Councillors actions had breached Wrington Parish Councils Code of Conduct, in particular iii Member obligations points 1 and 2.

 

The Sub-Committee noted that the Councillor had not acknowledged the seriousness of the complaint and had not shown any remorse for the distress caused by his behaviour.

 

Resolved:

 

(1) that as, in the Sub-Committees view, the Councillors conduct did breach the Code of Conduct, the letter of resignation should stand.

 

(2) that it be noted such behaviour could constitute a criminal offence, and may be reported to the Police; and

 

(3) that the Deputy Monitoring Officer write to the Councillor and the complainant advising of the decision.

 

The Independent Parish Councillor left the meeting.

 

SSC 6

Complaint against a District Councillor (01/2018) (Agenda Item 5)

The Sub-Committee considered a complaint received from a District Councillor regarding a District Councillor stating that he had breached the North Somerset Council Code of Conduct applicable to councillors.

 

The Deputy Monitoring Officer outlined the complaint.

The Sub-Committee considered the complaint, together with the response from the Councillor concerned and received the views of the Independent Lay Person.

 

In considering the key issues, the Sub-Committee considered that the Councillors actions had not breached the Code of Conduct as the Councillor did not use the title Councillor in his letter to the press, and all financial information was in the public domain

 

Resolved:

 

(1) that as the Councillors conduct did not, in the view of the Sub-Committee, breach the Code of Conduct, no further action be taken; and

 

(2) that the Deputy Monitoring Officer write to the Councillor and the complainant advising of the decision.

 

In addition, a recommendation was made that a communication should be issued to all members explaining the advisability of using the title Councillor when writing letters to the press.

 

 

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Chairman

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