Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, Forde House, Brunel Road, Newton Abbot, TQ12 4XX

Items
No. Item

8.

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

Apologises for absence were received from Councillor L Petherick.

 

9.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 104 KB

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 5 April 2019.

 

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on 5 April 2019 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

10.

Declarations of Interest

Minutes:

None.

11.

Consideration of the matter with out the Press & Public present

Minutes:

The Chairman announced that the papers for this hearing had not been published to date, as there were grounds to deal with the matter in confidence because it concerned individuals and personal details. There was however a clear public interest regarding the conduct of councillors to be considered in public.

 

The Chairman asked if all people present, including the press, understood that the personal details of the complainant were not to be published then the matter could be dealt with in public session.

 

This was agreed by all present (including the complainant and the press).

 

12.

Standards Complaint

Minutes:

The Chairman advised that it was the panel’s role to determine whether there had been a breach of the code of conduct based upon the Investigating Officer’s report and any representations today.

 

The Solicitor to the Council & Monitoring Officer set out the issues before the panel:-

·         The need for the Committee to establish the facts

·         Whether the Committee felt there had been a breach, including whether the code applied or not

·         If there had been a breach to consider any sanctions as recommended in the Investigating Officer report.

 

The Investigating Officer presented his report and findings. He outlined the complaint which had been received on 15 August 2018, the allegations as detailed in the report, the relevant law and guidance.  He brought the committees attention to the evidence and findings of facts and his conclusion.   

 

In response to Member’s questions, the Investigating Officer clarified that any breach in data protection regulations was not in the remit of this Committee and the only issue the Committee should consider was the Code of Conduct.

 

The Solicitor to the Council & Monitoring Officer advised that Members should consider the issues as alleged in the report.

 

Councillor Cox circulated to Committee Members:-

·         Copy email - dated 23 August 2018 from Councillor Cox to the Interim Monitoring Officer stating that the papers belonging to complainant had been found

·         Copy email – dated 28 August 2018 from the Interim Monitoring Officer to Councillor Cox in which he suggested that the found papers be returned directly to the complainant.

 

He then stated that on receipt of this email he then returned the papers to the complainant by recorded delivery with a letter as advised by the Interim Monitoring Officer.

 

Councillor Cox stated that no one apart from Homeless in Teignbridge Support (HITS) had access to the documents and that this was a charity based issue and he was not acting in his capacity as a councillor. He had been referred to the complainant by the CAB in his capacity as a HITS trustee.  He bitterly regretted the misfiling of the documents, when they had been found he returned them as advised by the Interim Monitoring Officer and he had apologised to the complainant.

 

The carer of the complainant addressed the panel. She expressed disappointment that the Data Protection issue was not relevant, as the loss of the paper work had caused the complainant great anguish. It was important that all the relevant information was considered to ensure that the panel could come to a conclusion and that there were consequences when acting in a position of public office. The complainant had contacted the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) and they had suggested that she contact her local councillor, she subsequently contacted Councillor Cox.    

 

Councillor Cox’s representative, Councillor Macgregor asked the Investigating Officer what evidence there was that Councillor Cox was acting in his capacity as a Councillor. He commented that as the case had already been released to the press that the matter had been dealt with.

 

The Investigating  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.