Agenda and draft minutes

Venue: via Remote Video Link

Contact: Email: CommitteeServices@horsham.gov.uk  Direct Line: 01403 215465

Items
No. Item

SC/1

Election of Chairman of the Sub-Committee for the Meeting

Minutes:

RESOLVED

 

That Brian Donnelly be elected Chairman of the Sub-Committee for the purposes of this meeting

SC/2

Declarations of Members' Interests

To receive any declarations of interest from Members of the Committee

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest.

Exclusion of the Press and Public

RESOLVED

 

That, under Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for this item of business, on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information, as defined in Paragraph 2 of Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (information which is likely to reveal the identity of an individual), and in all the circumstances of the case the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

SC/3

To determine allegations following investigations in accordance with arrangements in place under the Localism Act 2011 pdf icon PDF 152 KB

To determine allegations following investigations in relation to the alleged conduct of Parish Councillors and, if appropriate and necessary, to consider any sanctions.

 

Case reference numbers:

 

CES / 001392

CES / 001418

CES / 001520

CES / 001577

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The sub-committee considered four complaints alleging that a Steyning Parish Councillor had breached the Members’ Code of Conduct (the Code). Each of the complaints was against the same Councillor, and had been made by the same individual who was also a Steyning Parish Councillor.

 

1)      Complaint ref: CES 001392

 

The Investigating Officer introduced the report on the complaint, which alleged breaches of the following paragraphs of the Code:

 

3(1):  You must treat others with respect;

3(2)(b):  You must not bully a person;

5:  You must not conduct yourself in a manner which could reasonably be regarded as bringing your office into disrepute.

 

The allegation related to a Parish Council meeting held virtually and how the Subject Member presented himself at that meeting and then posted part of the meeting onto Facebook.

 

The sub-committee considered the conclusions of the Investigating Officer.  They took account of the information supplied by the complainant, the Subject Member’s responses, the view of the Parish Representative and of the Independent Person.

 

RESOLVED

 

The sub-committee decided that, on the basis of the information before them:

 

i)     The Subject Member has failed to comply with the following paragraphs of the Code:

 

3(1):  You must treat others with respect;

5:  You must not conduct yourself in a manner which could reasonably be regarded as bringing your office into disrepute.

 

ii)    There had been no breach of paragraph 3(2)(b): You must not bully a person.

 

2)      Complaint ref: CES 001418

 

The Investigating Officer introduced the report on the complaint, which alleged breaches of the following paragraphs of the Code:

 

3(1):  You must treat others with respect;

3(2)(b):  You must not bully a person;

4:  You must not disclose information given to you in confidence by anyone, or information acquired by you which you believe, or ought reasonably to be aware, is of a confidential nature except with appropriate consent, where required by law, when obtaining professional advice, when reasonable and in the public interest, when made in good faith and in accordance with requirements of the Authority;

5:  You must not conduct yourself in a manner which could reasonably be regarded as bringing your office into disrepute.

 

The allegation related to the language used in written communications and the recording of a Parish Council meeting as it went into exempt session, which was then posted on Facebook.

 

The sub-committee considered the conclusions of the Investigating Officer.  They took account of the information supplied by the complainant, the Subject Member’s responses, the view of the Parish Representative and of the Independent Person. 

 

The sub-committed requested that the Subject Member be required to remove the relevant Facebook post.

 

RESOLVED

 

The sub-committee decided that, on the basis of the information before them:

 

i)     The Subject Member has failed to comply with the following paragraphs of the Code:

 

3(1):  You must treat others with respect;

4:  You must not disclose information given to you in confidence by anyone, or information acquired by you which you believe, or ought reasonably to be aware,  ...  view the full minutes text for item SC/3