Agenda and minutes

No apologies for absence were received.

Any Member who is substituting for another member should so indicate, together with the name of the relevant absent member.

No substitutions were declared.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 22 January 2024 (copy attached.)

The minutes of the meeting held on 22 January 2024 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Members are reminded of their responsibility to declare any disclosable pecuniary interest, other registerable or non-registrable interest which they have in any item of business on the agenda, no later than when that item is reached and, when appropriate, to leave the meeting prior to discussion and voting on the item.

There were no declarations of interests made.

Members of the public who live or work in the district are welcome to speak and may ask one question or make a statement of not more than three minutes duration relating to items to be discussed in Part 1 of the agenda only. If a question is asked and answered within three minutes, the person who asked the question may ask a supplementary question that arises from the reply.

As the meeting is taking place virtually, a person who wishes to speak must register by 9am the last working day before the day of the meeting. This can be done by sending the request to democratic.services@westsuffolk.gov.uk or telephoning 01638 719363.

If a member of the public cannot attend the meeting remotely, they may submit a written question or statement to Democratic Services by midday at the very latest on the day of the meeting and this will be read out on their behalf during the meeting.

There is an overall time limit of 15 minutes for public speaking, which may be extended at the Chair’s discretion.

There were no members of the public in attendance on this occasion.

To consider whether the press and public should be excluded during the consideration of the following items because it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the public were present during the items, there would be disclosure to them of exempt categories of information as prescribed in Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, and indicated against each item, and in all circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information. 

As the next item on the agenda was exempt, it was proposed, seconded and

RESOLVED:

That the press and public be excluded during the consideration of the following items because it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the public were present during the items, there would be disclosure to them of exempt categories of information as prescribed in Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, and indicated against the items and, in all circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

Report No: STC/WS/24/002

The Monitoring Officer presented this report which outlined complaints received that an Elected Member had breached the Suffolk Code of Conduct.

In line with process, the matter had been considered by the Independent Person and their response was appended to the report together with final submissions received from the subject member and complainants.

Following discussion and debate, it was

RESOLVED

That, in considering all the evidence, the West Suffolk Standards Committee was unanimous in determining that the Councillor had breached the Suffolk Code of Conduct, the relevant Codes being:

As a Councillor:

1.2     I treat local authority employees, employees and representatives of partner organisations and those volunteering for the local authority with respect and respect the role they play.

2.1     I do not bully any person.

2.3     I promote equalities and do not discriminate unlawfully against any person.

4.1b.  I do not disclose information acquired by me which I believe, or ought reasonably to be ware, is of a confidential nature, unless

i. I have received the consent of a person authorised to give it;

ii. I am required by law to do so;

iii the disclosure is made to a third party for the purpose of obtaining professional legal advice provided that the third party agrees not to disclose the information to any other person; or

iv. the disclosure is:

1.   reasonable and in the public interest; and

2.   made in good faith and in compliance with the reasonable requirements of the local authority; and

3.   I have consulted the Monitoring Officer prior to its release.

5.1    I do not bring my role or local authority into disrepute

6.1    I do not use, or attempt to use, my position improperly to the advantage or disadvantage of myself or anyone else.

The Committee considered this a serious breach of the Code of Conduct and imposed the following sanctions upon the Councillor:

·         That the Councillor write a letter of apology to the complainants and the data subject, such letter to be approved by the Monitoring Officer;

·         That the Committee will report its findings in respect of the Councillor’s conduct to an identified meeting and for the Councillor to apologise at that meeting for the breach;

·         That the Committee will release a statement about the Councillor’s conduct to the media; and

·         That a copy of the decision notice is submitted to the Councillor’s Group Leader with a recommendation that they are removed from the membership of the identified meetings, for the remainder of the current Administration.