Agenda item

To consider the investigation report relating to two complaints of breach of the Code of Conduct received in respect of a City of York Councillor and determine next steps.

Members considered a report which presented the draft report of the Investigating Officer regarding two complaints of breach of the Code of Conduct received in respect of a City of York Councillor.  Full details were provided in the private report referred to in Minute 16 above, to which the draft was attached as an annex.

The report invited Members to decide whether to:

a)   rule that there has been no breach of the Code;

b)   seek to resolve the matter informally; or

c)    refer the matter to the Joint Standards Committee for determination.

The meeting was currently inquorate, Cllr D’Agorne having declared an interest and withdrawn.  Members were advised that the only options now available were either to defer the matter to a new date or to refer it back to the Monitoring Officer.  Cllr D’Agorne was then invited to return so that the meeting was quorate again and, having taken into account the advice of the Independent Person, it was

Resolved:  That the matter be referred back to the Monitoring Officer for a decision.

Reason:     In view of the fact that the complaints cannot be determined by an inquorate sub-committee and deferral to a new date would cause inordinate delay.