Issue - meetings

To receive and consider the attached report and recommendations from the Governance & Audit & Standards Committee held on 16 September 2016 (minute 53 refers).

The following minute was opposed.

Minute 53 - Amendments to the Arrangements for the Assessment, Consideration and Investigation of Complaints against Councillors

The Lord Mayor explained that this referred to the revised version that included some changes to terminology.

Minute 53 was opposed.

It was

Proposed by Councillor Ian Lyon

Seconded by Councillor Scott Harris

That the recommendations contained in minute 53 - Proposed Amendments to the Arrangements for the Assessment, Consideration and Investigation of Complaints against Councillors be approved. 

As an amendment it was

Proposed by Councillor Donna Jones

Seconded by Councillor Gerald Vernon-Jackson

To "amend Appendix 1, section 2.2 by replacing:

"Any complaint must be received within 30 days of the alleged facts."

with

"Any complaint should be received within 30 days of the alleged facts, although the Monitoring Officer will consider any late complaint, if there is a proper explanation for its late submission."

The mover of the original proposal Councillor Lyon agreed to subsume the amendment standing in the name of Councillor Jones into the revised version of the arrangements for the assessment, consideration and investigation of complaints against councillors.

Upon being put to the vote this was CARRIED.

RESOLVED that the revised version of the Arrangements for the Assessment, Consideration and Investigation of Complaints against Councillors be adopted incorporating a change to the wording of Section 2.2 to read as follows:

"Anonymous complaints will not normally be considered unless the complaint is accompanied by documentary or photographic evidence indicating an exceptionally serious or significant matter. Any complaint should be received within 30 days of the alleged facts, although the Monitoring Officer will consider any late complaint, if there is a proper explanation for its late submission."

Minute 54 - Local Elections Cycle

This was approved unopposed.

The purpose of the report is to allow members to further consider proposed changes to the arrangements for the consideration and investigation of complaints against members, which were presented to members for consideration on 1 July 2016.

RECOMMENDED that the Committee is asked to consider and recommend to Council the following amendments to the process:

(1)  Approve the amended Arrangements for Assessment, Investigation and Determination of Complaints attached at Appendix 1 to this report.

(2)  Approve the amended Complaint Form attached at Appendix 2 to this report.