Councillors to be disqualified or suspended for poor conduct?

Question

Interesting petition.  Needs more signatures.  Clearly needs strong guidelines, rights of representation and appeal, but I think it’s time 

  https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/586143

The Government should amend legislation to enable Councillors to be disqualified or suspended for breaching relevant Codes of Conduct. Some Councillors behave unacceptably, yet currently sanctions do not enable Councillors to be disqualified or suspended for breaches of a Code of Conduct. More details Most Councillors maintain high standards of conduct, but a significant minority engage in unacceptable behaviour, such as harassment & bullying incl. racist, sexist, ableist abuse. This activity would be grounds for dismissal in an employment setting, and equivalent sanctions should exist for Councillors.

Answer 1

It is a nice thought but hasn't a snowball in hell's chance of success. Basically such a move to remove a democratically elected representative from office would then logically have to be applied to ALL levels of the democratic process thus passing judgement by a few appointed (and by whom?) people( those tasked with deciding and judging wrong doing) over the will of the people.

Such an action would undermine any semblance of democratic process that still exists

Comments

As usual I completely agree with Mentorman
I accept individual Councillors act badly but it the Parish Council as a body that needs sorting out

---

The discussion here has been side tracked into discussing the conduct of the clerk but I'd add that being of a certain age I recall the time when councillors could be suspended for poor conduct.  There used to be a national standards board as well as a local one and the main sanction was to suspend a councillor, if allegations were proved, for a maximum period of 6 months (I believe).  The Localism Act pretty much did away with that, replaced it with a local monitoring officer with no teeth whose only sanction is to wag a finger and request retraining with no come back if said councillor failed to attend.  Whilst I accept there are those who would claim this is democratic (or the alternatives undemocratic), we've all seen those videos with such poor behaviour that proper and professional acts by councillors are thwarted by the odd one or two hellbent on being disruptive.

Answer 2

I would ask why the Clerk is not included in any Code of Conduct.  It should be as many of us know!

Comments

Hi Dave
The current job description etc were all provided by the clerk on joining ( well before my time ) &  very basic but based on SLCC/NALC models . Yes, professional behaviour is what I'm looking for . I doubt it will mention pulling faces at councillors during meetings though, that's just one of many things ! . It is often said " you couldn't make it up " and it's so true . Thanks for your help,  I'll take a look at the NALC with regards to inappropriate behaviour towards councillors and residents with the view to suggesting updating the clerks employment contract.

---

Elizabeth without the unequivocal support of a majority of your fellow Councillors irrespective of the strength of your case you will get nowhere

---

True - if the clerk has a few councillors in their pocket then you will struggle to address poor performance

---

On those specific issues, perhaps making a video recording of the meeting and uploading it to YouTube with an enticing title including the name of the parish council will help you to draw attention, not only within your own community, but in the wider world. It's surprising how differently people behave when they realise there will be a permanent record available for all to see. More than 5 million people have watched the Handforth meltdown!

---

Dave I completely agree with your conclusion that recording meetings improves behaviour it’s also give a clear audit trail when decisions are made based on oral reassurances which are not subsequently minuted

Answer 3

It is looking likely that this petition will reach 10,000 signatures by the deadline of 25/11/21.  It is currently standing at 9,667.

Government will respond at 10,000 signatures.

Comments

10,000 reached.

Answer 4

Government responded on 25/11/21.

"The Committee on Standards in Public Life, in their report Local Government Ethical Standards, made recommendations on suspension of councillors and conduct. The Government will respond in due course."

The response in full is on their website:   https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/586143

Comments

Will “ conduct “ include Councillors ignoring their own rules and regulations , voting on vague motions and allowing some Clerks to harass Councillors and the public ?

---

Scratch the surface of any constitution and the real picture is revealed how this goes unchecked is baffling.