The Director of Law, Governance and Strategy (Monitoring Officer) had submitted a report to advise the Committee of:

·       The number and status of complaints received under the Members’ Code of Conduct which have been, or are to be, considered by the Director of Law, Governance and Strategy (in her statutory capacity as the authority’s Monitoring Officer) in consultation with one of the Council’s Independent Persons.

·       The number of dispensations to an individual member, granted under Section 33 of the 2011 Localism Act, by the Monitoring Officer, following consultation with an Independent Person.

·       Update on the action taken in relation to the complaint which was upheld against Cllr Henwood by a Local Hearing Panel on the 27 August 2025.

Recommendation: That the Standards Committee:

1.    Note the content of the report.

2.    Note and provide comment on the apologies issued by Councillor Henwood and confirmation as to whether these as satisfactory to the Committee. 

The Director of Law, Governance and Strategy (Monitoring Officer) had submitted a report to advise the Committee of:

·       The number and status of complaints received under the Members’ Code of Conduct which have been, or are to be, considered by the Director of Law, Governance and Strategy (in her statutory capacity as the authority’s Monitoring Officer) in consultation with one of the Council’s Independent Persons.

·       The number of dispensations to an individual member, granted under Section 33 of the 2011 Localism Act, by the Monitoring Officer, following consultation with an Independent Person

·       Update on the action taken in relation to the complaint which was upheld against Councillor Henwood by a Local Hearing Panel on the 27 August 2025.

The Chair noted a correction to the dates listed in paragraph 4 of the report; 2023 was corrected to 2025. The Chair summarised the contents of the report.

In relation to the complaint against Councillor Henwood, the Monitoring Officer summarised the process which had been undertaken and confirmed that it had been concluded the code of conduct had been breached. This was agreed by a Local Hearing Panel which also determined that Councillor Henwood be reprimanded by the Monitoring Officer and that he should send formal apologies to the complainant and the Standards Committee. The Committee were asked to consider the adequacy of these apologies.

The Chair queried the duration of time which it had taken for the letter of apology to have been sent to the complainant. The Monitoring Officer clarified the time frames and delays which took place and confirmed that the letter from Councillor Henwood was sent within the required time limit.

The Chair invited Members to review the letter of apology to the Standards Committee.

Councillor Waite requested clarification on why the Local Hearing Panel had requested the letter be sent back to the Committee for consideration. Councillor Diggins, as chair of the relevant Local Hearing Panel, explained that it had been determined that the letter be brought back to the Committee in any event.

The Monitoring Officer also noted that Councillor Henwood maintains that he did not breach the code of conduct as determined by the Local Hearing Panel, and the Committee were to determine if the apology letters to the Chair of the Standards Committee and to the complainant were sufficient.

The Chair invited a vote on whether the letter to the Chair of the Standards Committee was acceptable. When put to a vote, the Committee voted by 4 in favour, that the apology to the Chair of the Standards Committee was adequate.

Councillor Waite noted her belief that the letter was inadequate as she did not believe it addressed the misleading nature of the comments Councillor Henwood had made on social media.

The Chair requested that the Committee then consider the letter of apology to the complainant. When put to a vote, the Committee voted by 4 in favour, that the apology to the complainant was adequate.

Councillor Waite noted her belief that this letter was also inadequate as it did not address the relevant issues.

The Monitoring Officer noted the outcome of both votes and clarified that the matter was therefore concluded.

The Committee noted the content of the report and confirmed that the apologies issued by Councillor Henwood were satisfactory.