Minutes

Councillor Colwill declared a personal interest as a board member of Brent Housing Partnership.

None.

The committee met to consider allegations against Councillors Cheese and Shaw made by a member of the public. Members had before them the covering report which outlined the allegations attached to which was an independent investigation report and considered whether either or both should be made available to the public. The Borough Solicitor reminded the committee of the guidance from Standards for England that as much information as possible should be in the public domain and advised that while the covering report was capable of being discussed without revealing personal information of the complainant, this was not the case for the investigation report. The committee agreed that subject to further amendment to protect the identity of the complainant, the covering report from the Borough Solicitor should be made public and the investigation report remain not for publication.

On the allegation against Councillor Cheese and one allegation against Councillor Shaw the Investigator found that on balance there was insufficient evidence of a breach of the Code of Conduct and the committee agreed with this finding. On the second allegation concerning Councillor Shaw members considered the Investigator’s report and the appendices and agreed that there was a case to answer.

RESOLVED:-

that the following be agreed:

               (i)         that the Investigator’s report remain confidential and exempt from publication on the basis that it discloses sensitive personal information relating to Mr X's medical condition;

               (ii)        that the public interest in holding the meeting in public outweighs the public interest in having the meeting in private, that the meeting should be held in public save for any discussions about the detail of the Investigator’s report which shall be held in private and that a redacted version of the report may be made public;

(iii)       that the Investigator’s finding in relation to the allegation that Councillor Cheese breached the Code of Conduct, that there has been no breach of the Code of Conduct, be accepted;

               (iv)       that the Investigator’s finding that in relation to the allegation that Councillor Shaw breached the Code of Conduct by making inappropriate and disparaging comments in a public meeting on 19 July 2010) about Mr X generally, that there has been no breach of the Code of Conduct, be accepted;

               (v)        that in relation to the allegation that Councillor Shaw breached the Code of Conduct by disclosing information in a public meeting regarding Mr X’s health and making a comment about his health, a Standards Committee hearing be held to determine whether there has been a breach of the Code of Conduct.

None.