Agenda item

The Committee considered a report of the Head of Legal and Democratic Services and Monitoring Officer which provided an update on the activity since the last meeting in respect of complaints received by Durham County Council against Councillors (for copy of report, see file of Minutes).

The Governance Lawyer presented the report and advised Members that 16 formal complaints had been received between 28 February 2022 and 31 May 2022. Of those complaints one was rejected on the basis that it was outside of the jurisdiction of the Monitoring Officer for complaints to be considered, namely a Parish Meeting. There had been 11 decision notices issued in the last period, details ofwhich were set out at appendix 2 of the report.

Members were also advised that the online complaints form had successfully been implemented and they would provide feedback on the form at a future meeting. The paper format of the complaints form had also been made available in a larger font.

Members were then advised that training had been delivered to newly elected members of the Council and to a member following a recommendation of informal resolution in respect of a code of conduct complaint.

Resolved: That the contents of the report be noted.