Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence. Due to social distancing requirements, it had been agreed that the meeting would take place with a quorum of three Committee Members present.

To approve the record of the meeting held on 22 January 2020. 

Discussion

In relation to the screening of Complaint CCC/2019/002, that had been considered by the Committee on 22 January 2020, the Committee expressed concern that no letter of apology had been sent by the subject member to the fourth complainant, particularly as the Committee had previously expressed a view that an apology should be provided.

Decision

The Committee:

i)    Agreed that the record of the meeting held on 22 January 2020 be signed by the Chairman as correct.

ii)   In relation to the screening of Complaint CCC/2019/002, requested that the Monitoring Officer express to the relevant political Group Leader, the Committee’s disappointment that no letter of apology had been sent to the fourth complainant.

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.

This report summarises the content of agenda items 6 and 7, 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 6 and 7 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 items 6 and 7,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 14 February 2020 relating to two Medway Councillors. The Committee considered the complaint as detailed in section 2 of the report, along with the full complaint submissions, which were appended to the report.

Decision

The Committee:

i)     Agreed to take no further action in relation to the first Medway Councillor, who was the subject of complaint CCC/2020/001, as having completed the Screening Process, the Committee determined that the complaint related to activity that had occurred more than six months ago and that there were no exceptional circumstances that would warrant it being investigated.

i)     Agreed to take no further action in relation to the second Medway Councillor, who was the subject of complaint CCC/2020/001, as having completed the Screening Process, the Committee determined that there was no evidence that the Councillor had failed or may have failed to comply with the Council’s Code of Conduct.

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

Discussion

The Monitoring Officer introduced a report which detailed a complaint  received on 17 March 2020 relating to a Parish Councillor. The Committee considered the complaint as detailed in section 2 of the report, along with the full complaint submissions, which were appended to the report.

Decision

The Committee agreed to take no further action in relation to complaint CCC/2020/002, as having completed the Screening Process, the Committee determined that on the basis of the information provided, the Committee saw no evidence of any action that suggested that the Parish Councillor had failed or may have failed to comply with the Council’s Code of Conduct.