Issue - meetings

The Monitoring Officer submitted a report reminding the Sub-Committee that, at its meeting held on 30 June 2015, it had considered a complaint alleging that District Councillor K Crofton had breached the Council’s Code of Conduct (Minute 7 refers).

The Sub-Committee had agreed that consideration of the complaint be deferred to allow the Monitoring Officer to invite the complainant to particularise an element of their allegation.  The complainant was requested to particularise their “…previous relationship (with Councillor Crofton) and that which he has had with an immediate family member…” in order for the Sub-Committee to form a view on its relevance to the complaint.

The Sub-Committee noted the information provided by the complainant in response to the Sub-Committee’s request.  It also noted the complainant’s request for it to view the webcast of the relevant Development Management Committee meeting.

The Sub-Committee agreed to defer consideration of the complaint to a future meeting in order for the Monitoring Officer to obtain Councillor Crofton’s comments on the information now provided by the complainant.  In particular, the Sub-Committee considered that Councillor Crofton should be afforded an opportunity to comment on the complainant’s assertions regarding his membership of the Standards Sub-Committee that had considered code of conduct complaints against the complainant (when a District Councillor) that had led to a decision being taken that they should be investigated.

           RESOLVED – that consideration of the code of conduct complaint against Councillor Crofton be deferred to a future meeting to afford the subject an opportunity to comment on the complainant’s submitted further information and in particular the aspect now detailed regarding the subject’s role in a previous decision of the Standards Sub-Committee.