Issue - meetings

For information.

To note and accept the contents of the report.

The report was presented by the Monitoring Officer.

Concern was expressed that a significant number of cases were forwarded to the Ombudsman which therefore resulted in a slippage in the Ombudsman's work. It was stated that the Ombudsman was not meeting targets due to such an obviously heavy workload. The Ombudsman's workload was highlighted, and it was stated that this should be taken into consideration.

It was noted that 315 complaints related to the code of conduct and that as few as 49 had been investigated. It was suggested that it would be useful to try to resolve more issues internally before they had to be submitted to the Ombudsman so that the workload could be better managed and more cases dealt with efficiently.

In response to an enquiry from a Member regarding the need for a finding of guilt as an evidential basis to suspend councillors from their work, the Monitoring Officer confirmed that criminal matters were dependent on a finding of guilt in order that appropriate action be taken.

To note and accept the contents of the report.