(Members Code of Conduct – Part 4A of the Constitution)

To receive disclosures of interests from members and co-opted members on matters to be considered at the meeting. The disclosure must include the nature of the interest.

An interest must also be disclosed in the meeting when it becomes apparent to the member during the meeting.

Notes:

(1)       Members must consider their interests, and act according to the following:

(2)       Disclosable pecuniary interests relate to the Member concerned or their spouse/partner.

(3)       Members in arrears of Council Tax by more than two months must not vote in decisions on, or which might affect, budget calculations, and must disclose at the meeting that this restriction applies to them.  A failure to comply with these requirements is a criminal offence under section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992. 

(4)       Officers must disclose interests in accordance with Council Standing Order 44.

(Access to Information Procedure Rules – Part 3B of the Constitution)

Reports and background papers for agenda items may be inspected by contacting the person shown after each agenda item.  Certain reports and background papers may be restricted. 

Any request to remove the restriction on a report or background paper should be made to the relevant Strategic Director or Assistant Director whose name is shown on the front page of the report. 

If that request is refused, there is a right of appeal to this meeting. 

Please contact the officer shown below in advance of the meeting if you wish to appeal. 

(Kav Amrez – 07929 070 288)

The Interim Director of Legal and Governance will submit a report (Document “A”) which provides details of proposed amendments to the procedure which is used to deal with complaints submitted under the Member’s Code of Conduct adopted by the Council and with complaints submitted under the Codes of Conduct adopted by Parish and Town Councils in the District Area.

Recommended –

(1)  That the amended Procedure for considering complaints alleging a failure to comply with the Members’ Code of Conduct within the area of City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council as set out in Appendix 1 be recommended to Council for adoption to be effective from the beginning of the Municipal Year 2024/2025 in respect of complaints submitted from the commencement of the Municipal Year 2024/2025.

(2)  That upon adoption by Council, delegated authority be given to the Director of Legal and Governance to make any consequential amendments required to the Council’s constitution.

(Mandy Hill – 01274 432214 )

Resolved –

1.    That the amended Procedure for considering complaints alleging a failure to comply with the Members’ Code of Conduct within the area of City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council as set out in Appendix 1 to Document “A” be recommended to Council for adoption to be effective from the beginning of the Municipal Year 2024/2025 in respect of complaints submitted from the commencement of the Municipal Year 2024/2025 with the following additional amendments:

1.1Insert “of” in paragraph 6a so that it reads “It is a complaint against one or more named Members of the Council or of a Town or Parish Council within the District area”.

1.2Amend paragraph 8e so it reads “e. Complaints which relate to a person who is seriously ill and therefore is not in the public interest to pursue” and insert remainder as new paragraph 8f. “f. Complaints which relate to a person who is no longer a Member of the relevant Council or which refer to alleged incidents before the person became a Member of the relevant Council.” Re letter the remaining paragraphs of paragraph 8.

1.3Add the following words at the end of paragraph 25 “and if the complaint was originally submitted via the clerk of the relevant town or parish council “so the last sentence of that paragraph reads “The relevant town or parish council clerk will also be notified if the subject member is a town or parish councillor and if the complaint was originally submitted via the clerk of the relevant town or parish council.”

1.4After paragraph 29 insert a new paragraph 30 as follows “If the Monitoring Officer decides an investigation is required, the Monitoring Officer will ensure the investigation is progressed in a timely manner and will keep the complainant and the subject Member informed as to progress.” Renumber the remaining paragraphs of the Procedure.

1.5Amend the final sentence in paragraph 46 (now paragraph  47)  so that it reads “A summary decision notice will be produced and published”.

2.    That upon adoption by Council delegated authority be given to the Interim Director of Legal and Governance to make any consequential amendments required to the Council’s constitution. 

To be actioned by: Interim Director of Legal and Governance