Decision details

The Sub-Committee considered a report by the Monitoring Officer on a complaint against Councillor J Cartwright alleging that he had breached the Authority’s Code of Conduct.

The Sub-Committee noted the detail of the complaint and the content of subsequent ‘e’-mails submitted by the complainant regarding both the allegation, subsequent “twitter” activity by Councillor Cartwright and the need for openness in the complaints procedure.  The Sub-Committee also noted the content of an ‘e’-mail message from one of the individuals identified by the complainant.

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

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

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

After careful consideration of the complaint in consultation with the Independent Person and taking into account the Council’s assessment criteria, the Sub-Committee determined that the allegation made be referred to the Monitoring Officer for investigation – such investigation ideally to be completed as soon as possible (the Sub-Committee suggested two weeks).

           RESOLVED – that after careful consideration of the complaint in consultation with the Independent Person and taking into account the Council’s assessment criteria, the allegation made against Councillor J Cartwright be referred to the Monitoring Officer for investigation – such investigation ideally to be completed as soon as possible (the Sub-Committee suggested two weeks).