Appendix 1: Complaint data

Table 1: Complaints previously reported to this Committee (at its January 2024 meeting)

Case No	Date	Status of complaint	If concluded, basis on which decision was taken	Complaint Topic	Additional notes
V2023	November 2023	Determined by decision to take no action at preliminary assessment stage.	Insufficient evidence of conduct contrary to the Code identified to merit referral of complaint for formal investigation.	A	Complaint against member alleging failure to respond to concerns about a ward issue articulated via email and voicemail.
W2023	November 2023	Closed.	This complaint was not pursued when the complainant became unable to supply any evidence due to ill health.	D	Complaint about member’s posts on social media re events in the global arena.
X2023	November 2023	Determined by decision to take no action at preliminary assessment stage.	Insufficient evidence of conduct contrary to the Code identified to merit referral of complaint for formal investigation.	B	Complaint against two members by another elected member regarding conduct toward the complainant at Children, Families and Schools Committee and one of the member’s comments on X, formerly known as Twitter, after the CFS meeting.
Y2023	November 2023	Determined by decision to take no action at preliminary assessment stage.	Insufficient evidence of conduct contrary to the Code identified to merit referral of complaint for formal investigation.	D	Complaint about member’s retweets / posts on social media re events in the global arena.
Z2023	November 2023	Determined by decision to take no action at preliminary assessment stage.	Insufficient evidence of conduct contrary to the Code identified to merit referral of complaint for formal investigation.	B	Complaint against member’s conduct towards other Councillors at the Culture, Heritage, Sport, Tourism & Economic Development Committee.
AA2023	November 2023	Determined by decision to take no action at preliminary assessment stage.	Insufficient evidence of conduct contrary to the Code identified to merit referral of complaint for formal investigation.	B	Complaint about a member’s conduct at an online consultation session with a Council maintained school.
BB2023	November 2023	Determined by decision to take no action at preliminary assessment stage.	Insufficient evidence of conduct contrary to the Code identified to merit referral of complaint for formal investigation.	B	Complainant alleged that member had breached the Code of Conduct at meetings of the Council in the context of an item relating to alleged child safeguarding concerns.
CC2023	December 2023	Determined by decision to take no action at preliminary assessment stage.	Insufficient evidence of conduct contrary to the Code identified to merit referral of complaint for formal investigation.	B	Complaint against two members alleging that they had breached the Code of Conduct at a meeting of Full Council in the context of an item relating to alleged child safeguarding concerns.
DD2023	December 2023	Determined by decision to take no action at preliminary assessment stage.	Insufficient evidence of conduct contrary to the Code identified to merit referral of complaint for formal investigation.	A	Complaint against member alleging failure to respond directly to concerns about child safeguarding concerns in schools articulated via email.
EE2023	December 2023	Determined by decision to take no action at preliminary assessment stage.	Insufficient evidence of conduct contrary to the Code identified to merit referral of complaint for formal investigation.	D	Complaint about member’s comments on a Brighton and Hove news article regarding events in the global arena
FF2023	December 2023	Determined by decision to take no action at preliminary assessment stage.	Neither proportionate nor necessary in the public interest to merit referral of complaint for formal investigation.	A	Complaint against member alleging failure to respond to concerns about a ward issue articulated via email.
GG2023	December 2023	Determined by decision to take no action at preliminary assessment stage.	Neither proportionate nor necessary in the public interest to merit referral of complaint for formal investigation.	B	Complaint against member regarding their response in Committee to a written question concerning a section 106 agreement involving the Council.
A2024	January 2024	Determined by decision to take no further action.	Individual is no longer “a member”, so there is no longer an “allegation” to be determined under the Council’s process.  As a result, the Council has had no option other than to determine the complaint without taking any action.	A	Complaint regarding information given by a member regarding their place of residence whilst campaigning for the May 2023 local elections.
B2024	January 2024	Determined by decision to take no further action.	Individual is no longer “a member”, so there is no longer an “allegation” to be determined under the Council’s process.  As a result, the Council has had no option other than to determine the complaint without taking any action.	A	Complaint alleged that member had engaged in conduct contrary to the Code by failing to act with integrity and honesty and / or failing to act lawfully by providing a false place of residence, plus also alleged failures to respond re ward issues via email.
C2024	January 2024	Determined by decision to take no action at preliminary assessment stage.	Investigation was neither proportionate nor necessary in the public interest to merit referral of complaint for formal investigation.	A	Complaint alleged that the member had been insufficiently responsive to the complainant’s requests for information about the Council’s services in the local area and about being asked to make an email appointment to see the member to discuss ward issues.
D2024	January 2024	Determined by decision to take no action at preliminary assessment stage.	Investigation was neither proportionate nor necessary in the public interest to merit referral of complaint for formal investigation.	A	Complaint against member alleging failure to respond to concerns about a ward issue articulated via email.

Table 2: Complaints received in since January 2024

Case No	Date	Status of complaint	If concluded, basis on which decision was taken	Complaint Topic	Additional notes
E2024	January 2024	Determined by decision to take no action at preliminary assessment stage.	Insufficient evidence of conduct contrary to the Code identified to merit referral of complaint for formal investigation.	B	Complaint against member alleging that they had breached the Code of Conduct at a meeting of Children, Families & Schools Committee.
F2024	January 2024	Determined by decision to take no action at preliminary assessment stage.	Insufficient evidence of conduct contrary to the Code identified to merit referral of complaint for formal investigation.	B	Complaint against member alleging that they had breached the Code of Conduct at a meeting of Children, Families & Schools Committee.
G2024	January 2024	Determined by decision to take no action at preliminary assessment stage.	Insufficient evidence of conduct contrary to the Code identified to merit referral of complaint for formal investigation.	B	Complaint against member alleging that they had breached the Code of Conduct at a meeting of Children, Families & Schools Committee.
H2024	January 2024	Determined by decision to take no further action.	Individual is no longer “a member”, so there is no longer an “allegation” to be determined under the Council’s process.  As a result, the Council has had no option other than to determine the complaint without taking any action.	A	Complaint alleged that the member had been insufficiently responsive to the complainant’s requests for information about the Council’s services. In addition, complaint against member’s comments on online news articles.
I2024	January 2024	Remains at preliminary assessment stage, having been referred to the Independent Person for review.	N/A	B	Complaint by an elected member against another member alleging that they had breached the Code of Conduct at a Council meeting.
J2024	January 2024	Determined by decision to take no action at preliminary assessment stage.	Insufficient evidence of conduct contrary to the Code identified to merit referral of complaint for formal investigation.	B	Complaint against two members alleging that they had breached the Code of Conduct at a meeting of Children, Families & Schools Committee.
K2024	January 2024	Determined by decision to take no action at preliminary assessment stage.	Insufficient evidence of conduct contrary to the Code identified to merit referral of complaint for formal investigation.	B	Member on member complaint which alleges misconduct at a Council meeting, specifically around comments made by one member when allowed to speak as a third speaker for their group on a particular Notice of Motion.
L2024	January 2024	Determined by decision to take no action at preliminary assessment stage.	Insufficient evidence of conduct contrary to the Code identified to merit referral of complaint for formal investigation.	B	Complaint against member alleging that they had breached the Code of Conduct at a meeting of Children, Families & Schools Committee.
M2024	February 2024	Ongoing- has been referred to IP for their view	N/A	A	Complaint against member alleging failure to respond to concerns about a Freedom of Information Request.
N2024	February 2024	Ongoing- has been referred to IP for their view	N/A	A	Complaint against member alleging misconduct at a Brighton & Hove City Council event and not responding to the constituent’s email following the event.
O2024	March 2024	Ongoing- has been referred to IP for their view	N/A	B	Complaint against member alleging misconduct at a Brighton & Hove City Council event and not responding to the constituent’s email following the event.
P2024	March 2024	Ongoing	N/A	C	Multi faceted complaint about a members conduct in their ward, including but not only complaints about handing of personal data

Key to Complaint topics

Code	Description of type of conduct complained about
A	Complaints about members’ conduct in their wards, including when discharging their ward responsibilities or otherwise communicating with constituents or other stakeholders.
B	Complaints about comments or conduct either at council meetings, or at meetings at which members are representing BHCC
C	Complaints about conduct relating to council business or other members made outside council meetings, including on social media
D	Complaints about a member’s conduct or position on an issue which is not council business or a ward matter, including conduct or a statement reported in the press or made on social media