Breach of the Code of Conduct (Report No STC/WS/23/001) (Exempt: Paras 1 & 2)
Report No: STC/WS/23/001
Minutes:
The Monitoring Officer presented this report which concerned a breach of the Code of Conduct where the Councillor concerned had refused to comply with the sanction imposed upon them.
Following discussions with the Independent Person and in line with due process, the Monitoring Officer contacted the Chair and Vice Chair of the Standards Committee who agreed for a meeting of the Committee to be arranged in order to consider the matter.
As part of the discussion on the report, the Monitoring Officer provided background on the nature of the original complaint to Members of the Committee.
In related discussion, the Monitoring Officer also sought the Committee’s support in reviewing West Suffolk Council’s Standards Procedures later in the year. With particular focus on changing the way in which complaints were reported to the Committee and the sanctions available to exercise.
It was proposed by Councillor Margaret Marks, seconded by Councillor John Augustine and with 5 voting for the motion and with 1 against, it was
RESOLVED:
That, the Monitoring Officer contact the Town Council concerned in order to recommend that the Councillor in question receive formal censure at a public meeting of the Town Council. The expectation that all Councillors of the Town Council would receive Code of Conduct training following the May elections would also be highlighted.