AGENDA ITEM 5

BOROUGH OF POOLE

STANDARDS COMMITTEE 29th MARCH 2006

UPDATE ON COMPLAINTS

REPORT BY HEAD OF LEGAL AND DEMOCRATIC SERVICES

1.0PURPOSE OF THE REPORT

1.1To update Members on complaints received by The Standards Board for England against Members of the Borough of Poole and, where appropriate, to report outcomes.

2.0RECOMMENDATIONS

2.1The Standards Committee are recommended to note the contents of this Report.

3.0BACKGROUND

3.1As previously agreed Members of the Standards Committee receive an update at each Committee on complaints that have been logged against Members of the Borough Council with The Standards Board for England.

It has previously been agreed that in the case of complaints that are not upheld the reports are anonymised. Members are reminded that The Standards Board for England website also carries details of decisions issued, however these do not always appear to be complete. For instance for some reason only two decisions are currently listed against Poole Borough Council.

The schedule attached enables Members to monitor complaints received and look for any trends. It is pleasing to note that the level of complaints is relatively low and that there have not been any recent findings against Members for breach of the Code of Conduct.

4.0CONCLUSION

This Report is for noting only.

T M MARTIN

HEAD OF LEGAL AND DEMOCRATIC SERVICES

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Created on 26 September 2006 12:10\\artemis\democratic\committeeminutes\report\Standards Committee\#29032006 Schedule of Complaints Progress Chart#.doc

Schedule of Complaints/Progress Chart______

Status / Substance of Complaint / Interim Position / Final Finding / Date Closed
Closed / A Member complained that another Member had written a critical letter about them in the local paper. / Complaint dismissed. SBE considered that the Members had sufficient opportunity to debate these issues locally and the Code had not been breached. / 18/05/2005
Closed / A Member complained that another Member participated in a decision where they had a prejudicial interest. / The matter has been referred to an Ethical Standards Officer for fuller investigation. / ESO concluded that there had been no substantive breach of the Code. The Member had acted in good faith and had not believed that an interest needed to be declared. / 18/08/2005
Closed / A housing applicant complained that a Member refused to intervene in a complaint that was being handled by Officers and displayed a homophobic attitude. / No evidence of breach of the Code of Conduct. / 06/12/2005
Closed / Allegation that a Member had disclosed confidential information. / It was considered that the actual information released was not confidential. No action to be taken. / 23/02/2006
Closed / Allegation that a Member took part in discussion and voted on a matter in which they had a prejudicial interest arising out of other Council responsibilities. / It was not considered that the circumstances gave rise to a prejudicial interest and therefore there was no breach of the code. / 12/09/06

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Created on 26 September 2006 12:10\\artemis\democratic\committeeminutes\report\Standards Committee\#29032006 Schedule of Complaints Progress Chart#.doc