Wirral Council’s Standards Panel will meet on the 15th June to decide on a complaint about a councillor

Wirral Council’s Standards Panel will meet on the 15th June to decide on a complaint about a councillor

Council Chamber (Wallasey Town Hall) 1st June 2017 - Does the councillor complained about sit on one of these seats?

Wirral Council’s Standards Panel will meet on the 15th June to decide on a complaint about a councillor

Council Chamber (Wallasey Town Hall) 1st June 2017 - Does the councillor complained about sit on one of these seats?
Council Chamber (Wallasey Town Hall) 1st June 2017 – Does the councillor complained about sit on one of these seats?

I noticed looking through the calendar of public meetings at Wirral Council this month that a Standards Panel meeting is scheduled for Thursday 15th June starting at 5.00 pm in Committee Room 1 at Wallasey Town Hall.

However two days before it meets Wirral Council’s Standards and Constitutional Oversight Committee (its parent Committee) meets to decide which councillors sit on the Standards Panel.

Publishing the date, time and place of the meeting is of course is an improvement on the last Standards Panel involving a complaint about Cllr Steve Foulkes last year which wasn’t added to the calendar until after the meeting had taken place.

So who is the complaint about? Short answer is I don’t know as I didn’t make it! Here however are the papers from a previous Standards Panel meeting I was present at involving Cllr Denis Knowles in 2012. The complainant was also then Denis Knowles too!

However, presumably it won’t be about any of the three councillors that may be on the Standards Panel deciding it (Cllr Chris Blakeley (Conservative), Cllr Phil Gilchrist (Liberal Democrat) or Cllr Moira McLaughlin (Labour)).

It looks possible that Cllr Paul Hayes could be an Alternate Member at the Standards Panel meeting for the Conservative Group in place of Cllr Chris Blakeley though.

It also won’t be about about Cllr Gillian Wood as she was only elected earlier last month. Therefore there has been insufficient time for any complaint about her to reach this stage.

That leaves a large number of other councillors (sixty or so) it could be about! As the agenda is set to be published by the 7th June 2017 it’s possible I might find out then.

The good thing about it meeting in Committee Room 1 is that it’s possible microphones can be used there. Other people down on Wirral Council’s website as attending the meeting are Shirley Hudspeth (presumably to take the minutes), Surjit Tour (in his capacity as Monitoring Officer) and Professor Ronald Jones (in his capacity as Independent Person).

The agenda to be agreed for Standards Panel meetings is as follows:


1. Appointment of Chairperson of the Panel

2. Declarations of Interest

3. Opening remarks of the Chairperson

4. Panel to determine whether the exemption to exclude the press and public is to be maintained. (Parties invited to make representations)

5. Complainant (or representative) invited to make opening remarks

6. Subject Councillor (or representative) invited to make opening remarks

7. Investigator to present his/her report

8. Parties invited to question the investigator and/or seek points of clarification on the report

9. Panel to question the investigator on her report

10. Complainant (or representative) invited to make final submissions

11. Panel to seek clarification on any points relevant to the Complainant

12. Subject Councillor (or representative) invited to make final submissions

13. Panel to seek clarification on any points relevant to the Subject Councillor

14. Panel to invite the views of the Independent Person for consideration

15. Panel hearing adjourned to allow for deliberation (as deemed appropriate the Panel)

16. Panel hearing resumed for decision

17. If the Panel decision upholds/finds a breach of the Code, the Subject Councillor (or representative) shall be invited to make submissions in respect of any mitigation (including in respect of sanctions) for consideration by the Panel

18. Panel hearing adjourned to allow for deliberation (if deemed necessary by the Panel)

19. Panel hearing resumed for decision on sanctions (if any)

The Chairperson and Panel shall have discretion to vary the above procedure if it is considered appropriate and necessary to ensure fairness to all parties.


The Standards Panel can decide either to determine that no action should be taken in respect of the allegation(s) made (if so and the councillor complained about agrees a media statement is issued about it and if the councillor complained about agrees it is reported to the next meeting of the Standards and Constitutional Oversight Committee) or the Standards Panel can determine that the Members’ Code of Conduct is proven to be breached.

If their decision is the latter, then the Standards Panel can request:

(a) that Surjit Tour (Monitoring Officer) write to the councillor concerned,

(b) that the councillor has to apologise tot the Complainant (whether verbally or in writing),

(c) recommend to the Leader of that Political Group that disciplinary action be taken against the councillor,

(d) ask Surjit Tour to arrange training for the councillor concerned, if the councillor fails to turn up to the training then this is reported to the Leader of that Political Group.

If the Standards Panel upholds the complaint, the councillor complained about can choose within 21 days to appeal the decision to the Standards Appeal Panel.


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Author: John Brace

New media journalist from Birkenhead, England who writes about Wirral Council. Published and promoted by John Brace, 134 Boundary Road, Bidston, CH43 7PH. Printed by UK Webhosting Ltd t/a Tsohost, 113-114 Buckingham Avenue, Slough, Berkshire, England, SL1 4PF.

8 thoughts on “Wirral Council’s Standards Panel will meet on the 15th June to decide on a complaint about a councillor”

  1. G’day John

    It must be bad for someone, I presume amongst em, to complain.

    They are above the law and above everyone as far as I can see.

    They ignore and walk all over Grant (Chocolate teapot) Thornton, laugh at Improvement panels, mock LGA, take the piss out of one and all.

    So……………

    Ooroo

    James

    Someone must have taken someone’s football/golf ticket.

    They are beyond a joke John.

    1. The old “no smoke without fire” line eh?

      The three councillors on the Standards Panel could decide the councillor involved did nothing wrong (or not)!

      However if a Standards Panel meeting is being convened it usually means the report writer recommends something different.

  2. G’day John

    Had a quick look at when the next Fudge It and Risk It Mis-Management Committee Meeting is.

    Tonight?

    Saw in their

    WIRRAL COUNCIL COUNTER-FRAUD
    AND
    CORRUPTION STRATEGY

    This document sets out Wirral Council’s strategy which outlines the principles that
    Wirral Council is committed to in preventing and reporting fraud and corruption. It has the full support of Members and Chief Officers.

    What a lot of bogwash.

    Ooroo

    James

    1. No, it’s not tonight, but next Monday evening.

      I nearly read your comment as “Wirral Council is committed to preventing reporting fraud and corruption” which was merely tiredness on my part!

      Although you may think otherwise!

      1. You said it John.

        Well thought it.

        Spot on.

        Ooroo

        James

        If they are having a meeting about it you can bet they have it under control.

  3. G’day John

    In their ex-local rubbish propaganda sheet

    Tranmere Rovers to host world’s first Futsal Focus business conference

    Dear dear dear John this has “Phil the Very Very Very Very Slimy, Elusive, LYING Dill” and his foot/golf written all over it.

    Just sayin

    ooroo

    James

      1. G’day John

        Been massive in Oz for donkeys years I am sure wirral will catch up to the rest of the world soon and compete.

        I bet every avenue of “business” futsal went twenty years ago.

        Ooroo

        James

        Funny they don’t have beach soccer on Hoylake?

        They might all be too busy fox hunting and polo.

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