Joint Standards Committee	24 January 2022
Report of the Monitoring Officer

Monitoring Report in respect of Complaints Received

Summary

This report is to update the Committee on the position regarding ongoing complaints.

Background

The table attached at Annex A provides information about ongoing complaints and the table attached at Annex B provides the list of closed complaints. 

Case references 739, 740, 741, 2021/06 and 2021/11 have now been investigated.  They are being referred for a hearing, which is currently being arranged.  A hearing is also being arranged for case references 2020/17, 2021/08 and 2021/09 after a breach of the code of conduct was found by the investigating officers.

Case reference 2020/10 has been considered by a Sub Committee of the Joint Standards Committee who determined that they accepted the investigating officer’s finding of no breach of the code, therefore, the matter is now closed.

Case reference 2020/14 was heard by a Joint Standards Committee Hearing Panel who found a breach of the code of conduct.  The Panel formally reported the findings to the Parish Council and also recommended mandatory training for the Councillor.

Case reference 2020/20 has now been investigated and the investigating officer found no breach of the code.  The Monitoring officer has upheld this finding, therefore, the matter is now closed.

Case reference 2021/13 is currently under investigation.  So too is 2021/17.

Case reference 2021/14 was referred to an assessment sub committee which determined that no further action should be taken, therefore the matter is now closed.

Case reference 2021/15, 2021/16, 2021/18 and 2021/19 were assessed by the Monitoring Officer who did not progress the complaint because there was no breach of the code of conduct.

Case reference 2021/20 is being considered by an assessment sub committee on 13 January 2022.  Case reference 2021/21 is also currently being assessed.

Implications

Financial

Not applicable to this report.

Human Resources (HR)

Not applicable to this report.

Equalities

Maintaining standards across the City through the Code of Conduct ensures that an ethical framework can be adhered to, including ensuring that equality issues form an integral part of that framework. 

Legal

As detailed within the report.

Crime and Disorder, Information Technology and Property

Not applicable to this report.

Recommendations

12.That the Joint Standards Committee notes the report, in order to ensure that the Committee is aware of the current levels of activity and is able to provide oversight of the complaints procedure.

Author: Rachel Antonelli Head of Democratic Governance & Deputy Monitoring Officer	Chief Officer Responsible for the report: Janie Berry Director of Governance & Monitoring Officer Tel:  01904 555385
Tel:  01904 551043
	Report Approved	√	Date	11 January 2022
Wards Affected:					All	√
For further information please contact the author of the report

Annexes:

· Annex A – Table showing open complaints received.

· Annex B – Table showing closed complaints received.