Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Carr, Kemp, Wicks and Wildey.

To approve the record of the meeting held on 10 October 2018. 

The record of the meeting held on 10 October 2018 was agreed and signed by the Chairman as correct.

There were none.

Members are invited to disclose any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests or Other Significant Interests in accordance with the Member Code of Conduct.  Guidance on this is set out in agenda item 4.

Disclosable pecuniary interests

There were none.

Other significant interests (OSIs)

There were none.

Other interests

There were none.

To assist with the consideration of the complaints at agenda item nos. 7,8 and 9, the following documents are enclosed:

1)    The Members’ Code of Conduct

2)    Medway Council procedure for dealing with Councillor Conduct complaints under the Localism Act 2011

The Members noted the Members Code of Conduct and the Procedure for dealing with Councillor conduct complaints which were attached to the agenda to assist with the consideration of the complaints set out at agenda item numbers 7, 8 and 9.

This report summarises the content of agenda items 7,8 and 9, which, in the opinion of the proper officer, contain exempt information within one of the categories in Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972. It is a matter for the Committee to determine whether the press and public should be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the documents. 

That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the exempt material relating to agenda items 7, 8 and 9 because consideration of these matters in public would disclose information falling within Paragraphs 1 and 2 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 as specified in agenda item 6,and, in all the circumstances of the case, the Committee considers that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information. 

The Committee is requested to consider a complaint relating to Councillor conduct.

Discussion:

The Monitoring Officer introduced a report which detailed a complaint received on 15 October 2018 in relation to a Medway Councillor. The Committee considered the complaint as detailed in section 2 of the report.

Decision:

The Committee agreed that the subject member had potentially breached paragraph 2.1(i) and (ii) of the Member Code of Conduct and that complaint CCC 2018/003 should be referred to the relevant political group for resolution, having completed the Medway Council screening process for Councillor Conduct complaints.

The Committee is requested to consider a complaint relating to Councillor conduct.

Discussion:

The Monitoring Officer introduced a report which detailed a complaint received on 16 October 2018 in relation to a Medway Councillor. The Committee considered the complaint as detailed in section 2 of the report.

Decision:

The Committee agreed that the subject member had potentially breached paragraph 2.1(i) of the Member Code of Conduct and that complaint CCC 2018/004 should be referred to the relevant political group for resolution, having completed the Medway Council screening process for Councillor Conduct complaints.

In accordance with Council Rule 12.6, Councillor Potter requested that his vote against the decision that the subject member may have potentially breached the Member’s Code of Conduct be recorded.

The Committee is requested to consider a complaint relating to Councillor conduct.

Discussion:

The Monitoring Officer introduced a report which detailed a complaint received on 23 October 2018 in relation to a Medway Councillor. The Committee considered the complaint as detailed in section 2 of the report.

Decision:

(1)          The Committee agreed to take no further action in respect of complaint CCC/2018/005 as it did not consider the alleged actions to amount to a breach of the Medway Member Code of Conduct.

(2)          The Committee agreed to request the Monitoring Officer to write to the two Group Whips, given the Council is now leading up to local elections in May 2019, requesting them to remind Members of the Council to behave in a civil and appropriate manner, accepting there will be disagreements.