Agenda item - Update on Standards matters

Report of the Head of Law and Monitoring Officer

1)            That Members note the information provided in this Report on those member complaints which have either been concluded since the last quarterly report or which remain outstanding.

2)            That Members further note the data provided regarding member complaints received in during 2020, including the increase in the number of complaints made against elected members of Brighton & Hove City Council during that calendar year. 

3)            That the Committee agree to set up a cross party task and finish group of Members to review the local Code and the Council’s arrangements and to make any recommendations they see fit to the Committee, with particular regard to any changes they consider might assist in dealing with the increase in complaints.

43.1      The Committee considered a report of the Head of Law & Monitoring Officer that updated the Committee on complaints that Members have breached the Code of Conduct for Members determined and/or received in during this quarter, and in addition, provided an annual review of complaints against Members made between 1.01.20 and 5.12.20.

43.2      In response to a question from Councillor Hugh-Jones, it was explained that a significant proportion of the complaints received were from Members regarding the conduct of another Member and there had been a significant increase in the number of those types of complaints in the past year.

43.3      RESOLVED-

1)            That Members note the information provided in this Report on those member complaints which have either been concluded since the last quarterly report or which remain outstanding.

2)            That Members further note the data provided regarding member complaints received in during 2020, including the increase in the number of complaints made against elected members of Brighton & Hove City Council during that calendar year. 

3)            That the Committee agree to set up a cross party task and finish group of Members to review the local Code and the Council’s arrangements and to make any recommendations they see fit to the Committee, with particular regard to any changes they consider might assist in dealing with the increase in complaints.