Agenda and minutes

Please note: The Panel may consider any applications submitted for the exclusion of the public under 3(i) below, and then may decide to exclude the public from the meeting for consideration of the following item on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in appropriate paragraphs of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

There were no declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests and personal and personal and prejudicial interests.

The Hearings Panel followed the set procedure for an uncontested hearing.

Following submissions from the Investigating Officers, the Independent Person, and Councillor Davison, the Hearings Panel retired to consider whether there was a breach of paragraphs 3.8 of the Code of Conduct.  Following these considerations, the panel reconvened to discuss possible sanctions, again, inviting submissions from the Investigating Officers, the Independent Person, and the councillor.  The Panel subsequently retired to consider sanctions.

Resolved – (a) That the Hearings Panel conclude that Cllr Davison and Cllr Grant breached paragraph 3.8 of the Code of Conduct, (b) that no further sanction would be required, beyond sending a copy of the decision notice to the Respondents under a letter from the Monitoring Officer formally recording that they had been found to have breached the Code of Conduct; and (c) that the Panel recommends that the relevant Publicity and Media Relations Policy be updated as soon as practicable and the updated draft policy be referred to a future meeting of the Governance Scrutiny Panel for consultation, prior to consideration by the Executive