Issue - meetings

That the Committee notes the number and type of complaints.

That the number and type of complaints be noted.

The Monitoring Officer presented the report and explained that it showed a summary of the ethical complaints alleging a breach of the Code that had been submitted to the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales (PSOW).  In line with the Committee’s resolution, the complaints distinguished between different Councils and Councillors whilst remaining anonymous.

The report provided an understanding of the number and types of complaints being made, and the outcome of consideration by the PSOW.  Since the last report in November 2021, seven complaints had been received.  Five cased had been determined, with none being investigated by the PSOW as they failed the 2 stage test.  Two complaints were recent and the PSOW was deciding whether to investigate.  One complaint related to abuse of a clerk during a public meeting and was being investigated.

The majority theme with the complaints covered in the report was social media, with four of the seven relating to comments made online.  The Committee was familiar with the difficulties surrounding the use of social media and the protection for freedom of political expression.  The code provided a very low safety net in relation to poor or challenging behaviour.  The induction training encouraged Councillors to allow other Councillors to hold a different opinion without being berated, vilified, or ridiculed.

In response to a question from Julia Hughes, the Monitoring Officer explained that the importance of this was conveyed to new Members in the Code of Conduct training sessions, which was also given to members of Town and Community Councils.

RESOLVED:

That the number and type of complaints be noted.