Councillor conduct and standards

Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council (19 003 667)

Statement Not upheld Councillor conduct and standards 26-Feb-2020

Summary: Mr B complains that councillors did not follow proper procedures when deciding his planning application. He says that as a result the building works were delayed. There was no fault in the Council's consideration of Mr B's complaint.

Harborough District Council (19 001 632)

Statement Upheld Councillor conduct and standards 24-Dec-2019

Summary: Mr C complains the Council wrongly created 31 complaints without his consent or knowledge during its consideration of a single code of conduct complaint he had made about a parish councillor. Mr C says he was prosecuted for harassment of the councillor and although the court dismissed the case, he incurred legal costs and both he and his wife suffered unnecessary upset. The Ombudsman has found the Council at fault in the way it dealt with Mr C's code of conduct complaint and considers the agreed actions of an apology, proper response and £250 are enough to remedy Mr C's injustice.

London Borough of Hounslow (18 011 222)

Statement Not upheld Councillor conduct and standards 19-Dec-2019

Summary: Mr X complains about how the Council's Monitoring Officer dealt with his complaint about a housing officer. The Ombudsman has found no fault.

London Borough of Tower Hamlets (19 003 446)

Statement Not upheld Councillor conduct and standards 12-Nov-2019

Summary: Mr X complained the Council failed to properly investigate his code of conduct complaints. The Council correctly followed its procedure to decide not to investigate his complaints in detail. It considered evidence from Mr X, the chairman of the committee and officers, consulted with the Independent Person and explained why it would not investigate further.

Arun District Council (19 003 454)

Statement Upheld Councillor conduct and standards 20-Sep-2019

Summary: Mr and Mrs B complain the Council did not investigate their complaint about a Councillor. They say the Councillor was rude and interrupted Mrs B when she gave her objection during a planning committee meeting. The Ombudsman finds fault in how the Council considered whether to investigate.

Broxtowe Borough Council (18 004 023)

Statement Upheld Councillor conduct and standards 03-Sep-2019

Summary: The Council failed to properly investigate Mr B's complaint about three councillors and significantly delayed providing its response to the complaint. The Council has agreed to apologise, make a payment to Mr B and take action to prevent similar failings in future.

Broxtowe Borough Council (18 018 150)

Statement Not upheld Councillor conduct and standards 30-Jul-2019

Summary: Mr Y complained the Council has failed to follow its complaints procedure following a standards complaint about two of its Councillors' conduct. He says this has made him feel frustrated. We have not investigated this complaint. This is because we cannot achieve the outcomes Mr Y is seeking and he has appealed the planning decision to the Planning Inspectorate.

Epping Forest District Council (18 019 906)

Statement Not upheld Councillor conduct and standards 30-Jul-2019

Summary: Mr X complained a local Councillor accepted a gift from a local businessman without declaring its true cost and this makes the councillor unfit for their role. He wants them removed from certain committees. The Ombudsman has discontinued the investigation as there is no personal injustice to Mr X and we cannot achieve the outcome he wants

Essex County Council (18 016 489)

Statement Not upheld Councillor conduct and standards 11-Jul-2019

Summary: Mr X complains the Council failed to investigate his complaint that a Councillor had breached its Code of Conduct for Members. The Council is not at fault. It considered the information Mr X submitted appropriately and there was no fault in how it reached its decision not to start an investigation.

Bournemouth Borough Council (18 006 521)

Statement Upheld Councillor conduct and standards 16-May-2019

Summary: Mr C complained about the way the Council considered his complaint about a Councillor's conduct. The Ombudsman has found fault in the process which has caused Mr C uncertainty. The Council has agreed to repeat the process.