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Issue - meetings

Annual Summary of Member Conduct Complaints

 

 

Meeting: 26/06/2025 - Audit and Governance Committee (Item 75)

75 Annual Summary of Member Conduct Complaints pdf icon PDF 97 KB

Purpose:

To advise the Committee of the number and status of Code of Conduct complaints received and considered by the Council’s Monitoring Officer in the period from 1 September 2024 to 31 March 2025.

 

Recommendation:

That the Audit and Governance Committee resolves to:

1.         Note the report.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The purpose of the item was to advise the Committee of the number and status of Code of Conduct complaints received and considered by the Council’s Monitoring Officer in the period from 1 September 2024 to 31 March 2025.

 

Andrea McCaskie, Director of Governance and Regulatory Services, introduced the report and highlighted the following points:

 

  • The previous year’s report had been for the year to 31 August 2024. The current report was for a shorter period of the seven months to 31 March 2025 in order to align the reporting with the financial year.
  • There had been five complaints in the period, and one held-over from the previous period. Of these, five were not taken forward and one was dealt with by way of a local informal resolution.
  • This number was a relatively low number. However, it was noted that this was not considered to be a downward trend.
  • Table 3.1 on page 131 of the report pack showed the detail of the complaints.
  • Amendments to the complaints procedure had been adopted at the Council meeting in November.
  • Members had been advised of the requirement to update their Register of Interests (ROI).
  • Licensing training had taken place, with Chair training and two Overview and Scrutiny training sessions to follow.

 

It was clarified that when a Member was the subject of a complaint they would be advised and had an opportunity to comment. The Committee queried if any training was available for Parish and Town Members and Officers. The Director of Governance explained the process for receiving complaints was Oxfordshire wide, and that this meant Parish and Town Clerks would be aware of procedures to follow. However, the Committee was advised that the Council did offer assistance to Parish and Town Councils and would be open to exploring the opportunity to offer training. It was stated that Members had felt it helpful when training on procedures had been given in the past.

 

Regarding the Register of Interest, the Committee commented that it was useful to have received the reminder to update this but suggested that more guidance would be informative. The Director of Governance and Regulatory Services advised that Democratic Services would review whether the guidance given to Members should be strengthened.

 

Councillor Carl Rylett proposed noting the report. This proposal was seconded by Councillor David Melvin, was put to the vote and agreed by the Committee.

 

Resolved:

That the Audit and Governance Committee:

1.    Noted the report.

 

 

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