Issue - meetings

That the number and type of complaints be noted.

The Monitoring Officer presented the report which provided a summary of the ethical complaints alleging a breach of the Code that had been submitted to the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales (PSOW). The Monitoring Officer advised that the report gives the Committee an understanding of the number and types of complaints being made and the outcome of consideration by the PSOW.

The Monitoring Officer reported that since the last report 5 complaints had been received.  Of the 3 cases that had been determined, none were investigated by the PSOW because they failed the 2 stage test. To speed up the processing of complaints the Ombudsman is trialling a different approach to assessing complaints whereby it reaches a decision on whether or not an investigation is needed before notifying the Monitoring Officer or Councillor.  There were currently 4 complaints being investigated (3 made in 2022/23 and 1 remaining from 2021/22). The complaints being investigated were on a variety of issues with no common pattern.  A list of the complaints received during 2022/2023 was appended to the report.

The recommendation in the report was moved by Councillor Antony Wren and seconded by Gill Murgatroyd.

RESOLVED

That the number and type of complaints be noted.