Issue - meetings
Annual Local Government Ombudsman Letter
Meeting: 26/09/2024 - Audit and Governance Committee (Item 25)
25 Annual Local Government Ombudsman Letter 
PDF 211 KB
Purpose:
The report presents the Annual Complaints statistics as provided by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman for the year 1st April 2023 – 31st March 2024.
Recommendation:
That the Audit and Governance Committee resolves to:
1. Note the content of the report and the Annual Review Letter 2023 – 2024.
Invited:
Cheryl Sloan, Business Manager, Governance, Risk & Business Continuity
Additional documents:
Minutes:
Andrew Brown, Deputy Monitoring Officer, introduced the report that presented members with the Annual Summary of Member Conduct Complaints.
It was explained that the report covered the last 12 months up until 31 August 2024 and included complaints made against district, town and parish councillors within the district. Most complaints were based on issues around disrespect. As a general rule, complaints were resolved at the lowest appropriate level.
Learnings and conclusions had been taken from the complaints that progressed to the local hearing stage and these had informed the review of the complaint handling arrangements and Standards Sub-Committee procedure rules. The initial assessment criteria had been created which included tests regarding disrespect and bullying. Also, gender-neutral language would be used throughout the documents. It was considered that these and other changes would strengthen the current processes in place.
It was noted that the criteria including tests were a positive addition. The use of character witnesses was agreed to be important at hearings however it was noted that evidence presented in reports would cover witnesses’ statements and hearsay evidence would need to be considered carefully by the Sub-Committee.
The Chair proposed to:
- Note the report;
- Recommend to Council the adoption of the revised Complaint Handling Arrangement (Annex A); and
- Recommend to Council the adoption of the revised Standards Sub-Committee Procedure Rules (Annex B) following a review undertaken by officers and the three Independent Persons.
This was seconded by Councillor Ruth Smith, was put to the vote and unanimously agreed by the Audit and Governance Committee.
The Audit and Governance Committee AGREED to:
- Note the report;
- Recommend to Council the adoption of the revised Complaint Handling Arrangement (Annex A); and
- Recommend to Council the adoption of the revised Standards Sub-Committee Procedure Rules (Annex B) following a review undertaken by officers and the three Independent Persons.