The Monitoring Officer has submitted a report regarding the outcome of the Local Hearing Panel of the Standards Committee that found that Councillor Malik had breached the Council’s Code of Member Conduct and that the sanction imposed should be the formal censure of the full Council. 

Council is recommended to:

1.    Censure Councillor Malik in respect of the finding that he breached the Members’ Code of Conduct.  

Council resolved to:

1.    Censure Councillor Malik in respect of the finding that he breached the Members’ Code of Conduct. 

The Monitoring Officer had submitted a report regarding the outcome of the Local Hearing Panel of the Standards Committee that found that Councillor Malik had breached the Council’s Code of Member Conduct and that the sanction imposed should be the formal censure of the full Council.? 

The Monitoring Officer outlined the report, and the considerations required of Council. Members were informed that the recommendation to Council follows from a determination made by a Local Hearing Panel of the Standards Committee in relation to a compliant made against Councillor Malik.  

Councillor Pressel moved the report; Councillor Diggins seconded.  

Councillor Mundy noted his support for the recommendation but emphasised that the standards procedure in relation to engagement between councillors should also take account of the fact that robust engagement is not always welcomed however unreasonable conduct should be identified. Councillor Mundy also noted that the code of conduct also applies to councillors responding to members of the public who are often unaware of the code of conduct, and less likely to make a complaint.  

Councillor Henwood noted disappointment in the Standards Committee and insufficiency of the findings against Councillor Mailk.  

 
Councillor Malik addressed Council and referred to other example of behaviour he viewed to be comparable from councillors which had not been addressed by the Standards Committee. Councillor Malik considered the role of the Chair and previous Lord Mayor in the events leading to the complaint against him.  

 
The Lord Mayor advised Councillor Mailk to refer to the report before Council only. 

 
Councillor Smowton declared that as husband of Councillor Railton, who is related to the complaint, he would not be voting on the recommendation.  

Councillor Djafari-Marbini commented that to increase confidence in the Standards Committee, an update should be made to allow independent persons to vote.   

The Monitoring Officer explained that there are no provisions for Independent Persons to vote in the relevant statutory provisions however this is being considered by the government consultation.  

Councillor Arshad, in response to comments from Councillor Malik, asserted that as Lord Mayor at the time of events leading to the complaint in question, she disagreed with the notion she had not lost control of the meeting. She also provided further reflections on the substance of the complaint. 

Councillor Miles commented that as a woman in politics, she acknowledged Councillor Arshad’s comments. 

Upon being put to a vote, the recommendation was agreed.  

Council resolved to: 

1. Censure?Councillor Malik in respect of the finding that he breached the Members’ Code of Conduct.?