Audit & Standards Committee
Agenda Item 49
Date of meeting: 16th April 2024
Report of: Corporate Director – Corporate Services and Monitoring Officer
Contact Officer: Victoria Simpson, Senior Lawyer – Corporate Law
Tel: 01273 294687
Email: Victoria.Simpson@brighton-hove.gov.uk
Ward(s) affected: All
1.1. To provide an update on Standards-related matters, including data on complaints alleging that Members have breached the Council’s Code of Conduct for Members.
2.1. That the Council’s Audit & Standards Committee note the contents of this report.
3.1. The Council is required by the Localism Act 2011 to have in place arrangements for dealing with complaints against elected and co-opted Members. Brighton & Hove City Council regularly reviews the arrangements it has in place, including its Code of Conduct for Members and related Procedure and guidance. It is transparent about those arrangements, which it publishes on its website. It also makes data regarding the complaints received in about member conduct publicly available via the reports to this Committee.
3.2. At Brighton & Hove City Council, the Audit & Standards Committee has delegated authority for leading in discharging the statutory requirement that the Council maintain and promote high standards of conduct by Members. This Committee receives quarterly reports on complaints against members as well as information on the training and briefings offered to assist Members in discharging their responsibilities according to the expectations of the Nolan Principles.
3.3. This quarterly Report provides data on the complaints both still outstanding at the time of the last Report, and those which have been received in since then. In this way, the Report seeks to provide reassurance that recent complaints are being considered and dealt with in accordance with the Council’s processes.
4. Update on Current Complaints
Complaints previously reported to this Committee
4.1. In accordance with the last report to this Committee, this data is provided in the attached Appendix 1, at table 1.
Complaints received in since the last Update
4.2. This data is provided in table 2 of Appendix 1.
4.3. All of the complaints referred to in this section have either been determined or are being progressed by the Monitoring Officer in accordance with the Procedure which governs member complaints.
5. Member Training
Name of finance officer consulted: Jeff Coates
Date consulted: 05/04/2024
Name of lawyer consulted: Victoria Simpson
Date consulted 26/03/2024
11.1. There are no equalities implications arising from this Report.
Supporting Documentation
1. Appendix 1 – data on member complaints