Archived decisions

PROCEDURE TO BE FOLLOWED BY THE STANDARDS COMMITTEE IN RESPECT OF THE COMPLAINT OF MEMBER CONDUCT RECEIVED AGAINST COUNCILLOR P HEATH

1. Presentation of Report by the Monitoring Officer.

2. Members of the Standards Committee to ask any questions of the Monitoring Officer and the Complainant and Councillor Heath may ask the Chairman of the Committee to put appropriate questions to the Monitoring Officer but may not ask them directly of the Monitoring Officer.

3. The Complainant shall be given the opportunity to succinctly address the issue of the complaint and may introduce evidence and/or one witness to substantiate the complaint.

Members of the Standards Committee may ask any questions of the Complainant. Councillor Heath and the Monitoring Officer may ask the Chairman of the Committee to put appropriate questions to the Complainant but may not ask such questions directly of the Complainant.

4. Councillor Heath shall be given the opportunity to succinctly address the issue of the complaint made, whether he used the words alleged or similar words and their appropriateness or otherwise and may introduce evidence and/or one witness to substantiate his comments.

Members of the Standards Committee may ask questions of Councillor Heath. The Complainant and the Monitoring Officer may ask the Chairman of the Committee to put appropriate questions to Councillor Heath but may not ask such questions directly of Councillor Heath.

5. At the conclusion of the presentation by Councillor Heath Members of the Standards Committee must be satisfied that they have sufficient information upon which to take a decision on the complaint. If they require further information they may ask additional questions of the Monitoring Officer, the Complainant or Councillor Heath or may adjourn the meeting so as to require further enquiries to be made.

6. Once Members of the Committee are satisfied that they have sufficient information to come to a decision on the complaint, they will retire in private to consider the complaint. The Chairman of the Committee will subsequently advise Councillor Heath, the Complainant and the Monitoring Officer of the decision made and the reason for that decision and such action, if any, that the Standards Committee propose to take.