Memorandum by the Weymouth & Portland
Borough Council Standards Committee (STA 12)
The Standards Committee of the Weymouth &
Portland Borough Council wish to comment on the effectiveness
of the Standards Board in promoting and overseeing the Code of
Conduct.
There is dissatisfaction with the lack of speed
with which complaints have been handled. We have had several cases
where the investigation (never mind the result) has not been undertaken
for close to a year from the date of the complaint. This is unfair
to both the complainant and the Councillor being complained of.
The delays appear to have been the result of a lack of resources.
The Committee recognise that more resources are now being devoted
to this area and recent changes will result in many cases being
investigated and adjudicated upon locally. However at the moment
the delays are still occurring.
The Chair (an independent member) of the Committee
found the annual conference useful to him in furthering his understanding
of Code issues.
The Standards Board Officers have always been
very approachable and willing to talk to local Groups. For example,
we organised a meeting of independent members of Standards Committees
in the South West and this was attended by the Head of Legal and
the Head of Policy. Members found their contribution useful.
As a Monitoring Officer I have wondered whether
the Standards Board have put too much effort into glossy presentation
and events at the expense of dealing with complaints against Councillors
quickly.
Ian Locke
Monitoring Officer
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