Issue - meetings

Note – Essential Reference Paper ‘B’ for this report can be seen at Agenda Item 8

The Sub-Committee considered a report by the Monitoring Officer on complaints received alleging that Much Hadham Parish Councillors S Bannerman, A Baxter and I Hunt had breached their Authority’s Code of Conduct.

The Monitoring Officer tabled a copy of Much Hadham Parish Council’s Code of Conduct.

The Sub-Committee noted the detail of each complaint and the evidence provided by each complainant in support of their allegations.

The Monitoring Officer confirmed that, having consulted the Independent Person, he did not consider the complaints could be resolved informally.

The Monitoring Officer invited the Sub-Committee to consider each complaint individually against the (published) assessment criteria of the Authority’s Complaints Procedure.

The Sub-Committee retired to a separate room to consider each complaint.

After careful consideration of the complaint made by Mrs S Wetherall against Parish Councillor S Bannerman, in consultation with the Independent Person and taking into account the Council’s assessment criteria, the Sub-Committee determined that no further action be taken as the subject had already made an apology to the complainant.  The Sub-Committee noted the complainant’s suggested remedy.  It expressed a view that transparency in all forms of government was an important principle.  Insofar as it fell within the Sub-Committee’s remit, the Monitoring Officer was requested to notify Much Hadham Parish Council of its view that all concerned with the issue at the heart of the complaint (“the pavilion project”) should ensure full transparency in relation to the associated decision making processes and financial activities.  The Sub-Committee considered that the Clerk, as the proper officer of the parish council, had a particular responsibility to ensure that the activities of the Authority were fully transparent to all parishioners.

After careful consideration of the complaint made by Mrs M O’Neill against Parish Councillor S Bannerman, in consultation with the Independent Person and taking into account the Council’s assessment criteria, the Sub-Committee determined that no further action be taken as the local resident identified had received an apology from the subject.  The Sub-Committee noted the complainant’s suggested remedy.  It expressed a view that transparency in all forms of government was an important principle.  Insofar as it fell within the Sub-Committee’s remit, the Monitoring Officer was requested to notify Much Hadham Parish Council of its view that all concerned with the issue at the heart of the complaint (“the pavilion project”) should ensure full transparency in relation to the associated decision making processes and financial activities.  The Sub-Committee considered that the Clerk, as the proper officer of the parish council, had a particular responsibility to ensure that the activities of the Authority were fully transparent to all parishioners.

After careful consideration of the complaint made by Mrs A Farmer against Parish Councillors S Bannerman and A Baxter, in consultation with the Independent Person and taking into account the Council’s assessment criteria, the Sub-Committee determined that the allegations be referred to the Monitoring Officer for investigation. The Sub-Committee noted the evidence submitted regarding a meeting of the Parish Council held on 6 October 2015.  It was evident that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20