Agenda item

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Legal and Democratic Service and Monitoring Officer that provided Members with the proposed revisions to the Local Assessment Procedure complaint form (for copy of report, see file of minutes).

The Governance Lawyer was in attendance to present the report and provided Members with a demonstration of the online complaints form that allowed complainants to complete the form through the Council’s website. The online form would also allow the Complainant to submit a complaint and request that it be considered confidentially.

In addition to the form being made available through the corporate website, customer services staff were able to support in person or on the telephone to assist with the completion of the form.

In response to questions the Governance Lawyer indicated that copies of the complaints form could be made available in larger font and confirmed that the complaints form could be completed online using a mobile device.

Members discussed the complaints form in particular that complainants could submit a form confidentially. The Head of Legal and Democratic Service and Monitoring Officer indicated that the identity of the complainant would only be withheld under exceptional circumstances.

The Head of Legal and Democratic Service and Monitoring Officer read out the confidentially part of the complaints form and suggested that this wording be included in the local assessment procedure.

Resolved: (i) That the submission of the Member Code of Conduct complaints via the Council’s website be approved.

(ii) That complaints could be submitted via the Councils website with effect from 1 April 2022 be agreed.

(iii) That the confidentiality wording contained in the complaints form be included in the local assessment procedure.

(iv) That arrangements be made for the complaints form to be made available in large print.