Issue - meetings

The Sub-Committee considered a report by the Monitoring Officer on a complaint received alleging that Much Hadham Parish Councillors S Bannerman, A Baxter and R Key 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 the complaint and the evidence provided by the complainant in support of their allegation.

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

The Sub-Committee noted that all three of the individuals the subject of the complaint had resigned from their offices.

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 made by Mr N Clarke against (former) Parish Councillors S Bannerman, A Baxter and R Key, in consultation with the Independent Person and taking into account the Council’s assessment criteria, no further action be taken as the individuals concerned were no longer members of Much Hadham Parish Council.  In reaching this determination, the Standards Sub-Committee expressed a view that organisations such as Much Hadham Parish Council and the management committees of the Much Hadham Village Hall and Sports Pavilion should have a clear understanding of their status and roles in order to endeavour to interact in a constructive and productive manner.  If they needed guidance they were welcome to contact the Monitoring Officer to provide whatever assistance possible to achieve the suggested relationship now identified.

RESOLVED – that no further action be taken, for the reasons now detailed, in respect of the complaint by Mr N Clarke against (former) Parish Councillors S Bannerman, A Baxter and R Key.