Appendix 1: Complaint data previously reported to the June 2024 meeting of the Audit, Standards & General Purposes Committee

Table 1 - Complaints previously reported to this Committee (at its June 2024 meeting)

	Date received	Date determined	If concluded, basis on which decision was taken	Complaint Topic	Additional notes
R2024	14 April 2024	Determined by decision to take no action at preliminary assessment stage on 4 July 2024.	Formal investigation considered neither necessary nor proportionate in the public interest, having taken the view that there was insufficient evidence of a breach of the Code.	C	Complaint about member’s comments via social media regarding another political Group’s petition.
S2024	22 April 2024	Determined by decision to take no action at preliminary assessment stage on 4 July 2024.	Insufficient evidence of a breach of the Code provided to merit progressing the complaint to formal investigation.	B	Complaint against member alleging misconduct at a Full Council meeting in response to concerns expressed as child safeguarding concerns.

Table 2: Complaints received in since 1^st June 2024

Case No	Date	Status of complaint	If concluded, basis on which decision was taken	Complaint Topic	Additional notes
T2024	16 June 2024	Determined by decision to take no action at preliminary assessment stage on 22 August 2024.	Formal investigation considered neither necessary nor proportionate in the public interest, having taken the view that there was insufficient evidence of a breach of the Code.	A	Complaint concerned the registration of a neighbourhood forum being registered as a private company on Companies House: a set of facts not considered of itself to give rise to a breach of the Code.
U2024 to Y2024 inclusive	On or about 28 June 2024	Determined by decision to take no action at preliminary assessment stage on 28 August 2024.	Formal investigation considered neither necessary nor proportionate in the public interest, the complaint  having been resolved informally by the member concerned issuing an apology to the opposition party leader.	C	Five separate complaints raising concerns about a post by the member on X about views expressed regarding the democratic process and the role of the opposition.
Z2024	1 July 2024	Determined by decision to take no action at preliminary assessment stage on 21 August 2024.	Insufficient evidence of a breach of the Code was provided to merit progressing the complaint to formal investigation.	C	Complaint about a member’s comments on a local news platform during the recent election period.
AA2024	21 July 2024	Remains at Preliminary Assessment stage.	N/A	C	Complaint regarding a statement made by a member to the media regarding a Council project.
BB2024	15 July  2024	Determined by decision to take no action at preliminary assessment stage on 28 August 2024.	Insufficient evidence of a breach of the Code was provided to merit progressing the complaint to formal investigation.	B	Complaint about the decisions made by two members in their respective capacities as Chairs of two separate Council meetings in relation to the rules on deputations.

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