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FAQs About Councillors

Q: How do I complain about a parish councillor?

Making a complaint about a Parish Councillor

From May 2008, if you want to make a complaint about the behaviour of a Councillor, you must write to the relevant District, County or Unitary Council’s Standards Committee.

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Council Standards Committee

The Standards Committee is a group of people appointed by the Council to help promote and maintain high ethical standards of conduct by the people who represent you on a Council.  Some of these people are Councillors, but some, are Independent members of the Committee, who are not Councillors or employed by the Council.
The Committee deals with complaints about the behaviour of councillors.  It will only deal with matters covered by the Councillors’ Code of Conduct. The Code itself is very detailed but the general obligations on Councillors in the code relate to:
 
  • Treating others with respect
  • Complying with Equality Laws
  • Bullying and intimidation
  • Compromising the impartiality of Council officers
  • Disclosing confidential information
  • Preventing access to information
  • Disrepute
  • Improper use of position as a Councillor
  • Use of the Council’s resources
  • Considering advice provided and giving reasons for decisions
 
These obligations apply to:
 
  • interests – where a Councillor’s personal or professional interests may come into conflict with their duties as a Councillor
  • personal behaviour
  • Gifts and hospitality
 
The Code of Conduct applies when Councillors are on Council business or otherwise in their capacity as a Member of the Council – for example at a School Governors meeting where the Councillor has been appointed as a Governor by the Council.  It will not necessarily apply to Councillors’ conduct of their private lives.
 
 
The Committee will not deal with complaints about:
 
  • Council employees
  • Behaviour that took place before the person was a Councillor, or before the new Code of Conduct was introduced (May 2008)
  • The way the Council conducts or records its meetings
  • Actions or decisions taken by the Council – this may be a matter for the Local Government Ombudsman.

Writing your complaint

You should write a letter or fill out a complaint form on the council's website. You can only complain by phone or in person if you have a good reason, for example a disability that makes it difficult for you to write. You must say:

  • who the complaint is about
  • why you think they haven't stuck to the code of conduct (with dates and examples)

What happens to your complaint

You'll find out in writing what happens next. The standards committee will meet to discuss your complaint within 20 days. They follow a set of rules to help them decide if they will:

  • investigate it
  • speak to the councillor or give them extra training
  • send it to Standards for England (formerly Standards Board for England) if it's serious
  • decide no action is required

If you disagree with the decision you can ask the committee to look at the complaint again. You can send them new evidence and different people will discuss your complaint.

Source: direct.gov.uk

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