No apologies for absence were received.

To confirm the minutes of the Conduct Committee held on 23 September 2020.

Consideration was given to the minutes of the meeting held on 23 September 2020.

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the meeting held on 23 September 2020 be APPROVED.

In accordance with the Regulations, Members are invited to declare any disclosable interests under the Code of Conduct and the nature of those interests in respect of items on this Agenda and/or indicate if Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 applies to them.

There were no declarations of interest.

To receive any petitions, deputations and questions received from members of the public in accordance with the provisions of Procedure Rule 93. The total time allowed for this shall be 30 minutes. Petitions, deputations and questions shall be dealt with in the order in which they are received.

There were no petitions, deputations and questions.

To consider any questions received from Members of the Council in accordance with the provisions of Procedure Rule 95.

There were no questions from Members.

To consider any Notices of Motion from Members submitted under Procedure Rule 97.

There were no notices of motion.

To appoint a Vice-Chair of the Conduct Committee for the remainder of the 2021/22 municipal year.

It was moved by Councillor O Hemsley that Councillor A Brown be appointed as Vice-Chair of the Conduct Committee for the 2021-22 municipal year, this was seconded. There were no further nominations and upon being put to the vote, the motion was unanimously agreed.

RESOLVED

That Councillor A Brown be APPOINTED as Vice Chair of the Conduct Committee for the remainder of the 2021-22 municipal year.

The Committee is recommended to determine whether the public and press be excluded from the meeting in accordance with Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended, and in accordance with the Access to Information provisions of Procedure Rule 239, as the following items of business is likely to involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

Paragraph 1: Information relating to any individual.

Councillor O Hemsley moved from the Chair that the meeting exclude the press and public as consideration of the following items was likely to involve discussion of exempt information relating to the identities of the complainants and subject Councillors.

This was seconded and upon being put to the vote the motion was unanimously carried.

RESOLVED

That the press and public be excluded from the remainder of the meeting as the following items of businesses would involve discussion of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 – Information relating to any individual.

To receive Report No. 170/2021 from the Monitoring Officer.

Report No. 170/2021 was received from the Monitoring Officer, the Principal Solicitor and Deputy Monitoring Officer, Sarah Khawaja, presented the report which presented the findings of an investigation into allegations of a breach of Uppingham Town Council’s Code of Conduct by an Uppingham Town Councillor.

In line with the Council’s Arrangements for dealing with complaints, the Committee was advised by Gordon Grimes, the Independent Person, and received representations from the subject Councillor during the hearing. 

RESOLVED

1)    That the subject Councillor breached Uppingham Town Council’s Code of Conduct in respect of one of the allegations made.

2)    That the subject Councillor be issued with a formal letter and required to attend appropriate training arranged by the Monitoring Officer.

To receive Report No. 171/2021 from the Monitoring Officer.

Report No. 171/2021 was received from the Monitoring Officer, the Principal Solicitor and Deputy Monitoring Officer, Sarah Khawaja, presented the report which set out the details of a complaint against an Oakham Town Councillor and requested the Committee to consider what, if any, further steps should be taken in relation to the complaint.

In line with the Council’s arrangements for dealing with complaints, the Committee was advised by the Independent Person, Gordon Grimes.

RESOLVED

That the allegations warranted a full report, and the Committee requested the Monitoring Officer to prepare such a report, including further investigations to be carried out if required.

To consider any other urgent business at the discretion of the person presiding provided that it has been previously notified to them.

There was no urgent business for consideration.