Appendix 1: Complaint data

Table 1 - Complaints previously reported to this Committee: (Public Pack)Agenda Document for Audit, Standards & General Purposes Committee, 24/06/2025 16:00

URN	Date received	Date determined	If concluded, basis on which decision was taken	Complaint Topic	Additional notes
Q2025	14/05/2025	14/07/2025	Insufficient evidence was considered to exist at preliminary assessment stage to merit progressing this complaint, given that the member's input was not considered to overstep the established boundaries within which ward members engage.	A	Complaint regarding the conduct of a councillor in relation to a residential planning application.
R2025	04/06/2025	14/07/2025	Insufficient evidence was considered to exist at preliminary assessment stage to merit progressing this complaint, given that the relevant member was considered to have been acting in a personal capacity at the relevant time.	D	Complaint about the comments of a councillor during the pre-election period prior to a recent by-election.

Table 2: Complaints received in since the report to June 2025 Committee

URN	Date received	Date determined	If concluded, basis on which decision was taken	Complaint Topic	Additional notes
S2025	13/06/2025	27/08/2025	Insufficient evidence of a breach considered to exist at preliminary assessment stage to merit progressing the complaint given that the member was considered to have been acting in their individual capacity when posting, this in in way which was in any event not considered have potential to amount to a breach of the Code.	D	Complaint about a social media post made by a member.
T2025	27/06/2025	27/08/2025	While conduct was considered to have potential to amount to disrespect, this complaint was determined informally after the member concerned acknowledged that their comments were inappropriately personal and apologised.	D	Complaint regarding online comments made by one elected member about another.
U2025	03/07/2025	Ongoing	Not yet concluded – still being considered by the Monitoring Officer at preliminary assessment stage	D	Complaint concerned remarks and claims made online about the complainant and other third parties.
V2025	10/07/2025	18/08/2025	Insufficient evidence considered to exist to merit progressing the complaint, either that the member was acting other than in an individual capacity at the relevant time, or the conduct alleged.	C	Complaint about a councillor’s conduct in regard to regulated parking outside a school.
W2025	22/07/2025	27/08/2025	Insufficient evidence of a breach to merit progressing the complaint at preliminary assessment stage, the members concerned having agreed to apologise for their oversight.	B	Allegation that two ward councillors had excluded a campaign group from a meeting relevant to their cause.
X2025	01/07/2025	Ongoing	Not yet concluded – complaint awaiting consideration by independent person at preliminary assessment stage following a delay in obtaining information over the summer recess.	B	Complaint alleging a member made misrepresentations at a Council meeting.
Y2025	08/08/2025	09/09/2025	Insufficient evidence of a breach considered to exist to merit progressing the complaint at preliminary assessment stage, the view having been taken that the facts were most appropriately interpreted as a robust exchange in the context of local politics.	C	Complaint about comments made by a member about another member’s party Group.
Z2025	24/08/2025	Ongoing	Not yet concluded – complaint awaiting consideration by independent person at preliminary assessment stage	D	Complaint about comments made by a member about a politician from another Party.
A12025	24/08/2025	Ongoing	Not yet concluded – complaint awaiting consideration by independent person at preliminary assessment stage	A	Complaint that a member had made unfounded accusations about the complainants’ conduct of their business.
B12025	27/08/2025	Ongoing	Not yet concluded – complaint still at preliminary assessment stage	D	Complaint about a member’s comments and statements during an online exchange, initially about a politician from another party.
C12025	2/09/25	Ongoing	Not yet concluded – complaint still at preliminary assessment stage.	C	Complaint about statements made by a member in the press about a key policy topic.

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