Appendix 1: Complaint data

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

	Date received	Date determined	If concluded, basis on which decision was taken	Complaint Topic	Additional notes
AA2024	21/07/2024	12/12/2024	The complaint was considered to have potential to amount to a breach of the Code. However following deletion of the social media post which gave rise to it, the Monitoring Officer took the view that that further progressing the complaint to formal investigation would not satisfy the public interest, and that in this context no further action was merited.	C	Complaint concerned comments made publicly by an elected member in the context of a Council restoration project.

Table 2: Complaints received in since September 2024 Committee

CC2024	20/09/2024	14/10/2024	Formal investigation was not considered to be appropriate given that insufficient evidence to support the complaint had been identified.	A	Complaint concerned a telephone conversation between an elected member and a ward resident, the tone and content of which was disputed.
DD2024	14/10/2024	7/1/2024	Formal investigation was not considered to be appropriate given that insufficient evidence to support the complaint had been identified.	C	Complaint concerning a member’s position in relation to consultation on a key issue in the city.
EE2024	28/10/2024	05/11/2024	Formal investigation was not considered to be appropriate on the grounds that  insufficient evidence to support the complaint had been identified.	A	Complaint alleged that the member had not responded to a communication about a complaint made about an officer. However no further clarification of the matter complained of was supplied when requested.
FF2024	03/11/2024	18/12/2024	A decision was made not to progress the complaint to formal investigation on all of the facts, having determined that a formal investigation would not be proportionate and necessary in the public interest.	A	Complaint about a social media post made by another member regarding canvassing in the ward.
A2025	2/01/2025	Ongoing	N/A	C	Complaint about a member’s description of a Council consultation process in a media article.
B2025	6/01/2025	Ongoing	N/A	A	Complaint alleging an inappropriate degree of involvement by a member in a dispute between neighbours.

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