Please can you clarify how many code of conduct complaints against members of Devon County Council were determined between 1 April 2022 and 31 March 2023. By “determined”, I mean the date at which the complaint against the councillor was officially closed, regardless of whether it was upheld, dismissed, withdrawn etc
We can provide the following extract from the Standards Annual Report Complaints Against Councillors Between 1 April 2022 and 9th March 2023 (9 March because this is when the committee meeting date fell) :
There had been 7 complaints concerning alleged breaches of the Members Code of Conduct. The complaints raised included behaviour at a Parish Council meeting, failure to respond, unavailability, chairing of a committee meeting, lack of courtesy and respect, confrontational behaviour and procedural matters. Following an initial assessment of each of the complaints and consultation with an Independent Person appointed by the Council, it had been agreed that in four of the seven complaints there had been no breach of the Code. The latter was rejected due to it not falling within the scope of the complaints process. The complaints of failing to treat others with courtesy and respect and confrontational behaviour were found to be a breach of the Code and the Member accepted this and gave an apology. There was one complaint from December 2021 which was ongoing with the Report expected to be presented to the Committee in March 2023 and another complaint outcome also reporting in March.