Present at the meeting:
Elected Members
- Councillor J Ellis
- Councillor C Ready
Independent Members
1 Appointment of Chairman: Resolved: Mr D A Lea was appointed Chairman of the meeting.
2 Assessment of case Z38/4: The Sub-Committee considered a report in relation to the above mentioned case. This related to an allegation that the Chairman of the Standards Committee at Wigan Council had written a letter to the Mayor, Leader of the Council and the Chief Executive, which in the complainants view, was critical of the complainants conduct, character and integrity, and an incitement to refer the complainant, who was then an elected member of the Council, to the Standards Board.
The complainant also alleged that the Chairman had used his position inappropriately in an attempt to confer a disadvantage on the complainant and that he had brought his office into disrepute.
The Sub-Committee noted that whilst the complainant had taken exception to the Chairman’s conduct, it was not considered that such behaviour necessarily disclosed a potential breach of the code of conduct.
In the circumstances outlined, the Sub-Committee did not consider that the alleged conduct demonstrated that the Chairman had used his position improperly to confer a disadvantage on the complainant. Furthermore, it was not considered that the Member’s alleged conduct could reasonably be regarded as bringing his office or the authority into disrepute.
Resolved: The Sub-Committee, having taken account of the available information, did not believe that a potential breach of the Code of Conduct was disclosed and resolved that no further action be taken.
Chairman
