The Investigating Officer, presented the findings of her investigation and concluded that in her opinion there had been a breach of the Councillor’s Code of Conduct. The specific provisions that the Investigating Officer considered the subject member had breached were:

·  Paragraph 3(1)(a)  when using the resources of the Authority, Councillors must act in accordance with the Authority’s reasonable requirements; and

·  Paragraph 3(2)(f) Councillors must not conduct themselves in a manner which could reasonably be regarded as bringing their office or the Authority into disrepute.

Witnesses were called to confirm the accuracy of the information that had been presented by the Investigating Officer.

The subject member spoke to confirm the information that had been presented.

The Chairman asked the Council’s Independent Person for Standards Investigations for her opinion as to whether the Code of Conduct had been breached having heard the evidence presented. The Independent Person stated that in her opinion the Code of Conduct had been breached on both counts.

The Chairman adjourned the hearing to deliberate whether the subject member had breached the Code of Conduct.

When the Panel re-convened the Chairman confirmed that the Panel had decided that the subject member had breached the Code of Conduct on both counts presented.

The Chairman asked the Monitoring Officer, the Independent Person and the subject member their views on possible sanctions.

The Chairman adjourned the hearing to consider which sanctions, if any, were appropriate to apply in this case.

Once the panel reconvened, the Chairman announced the sanctions.

RESOLVED:

That sanctions be applied to the subject member.

All members of the panel disclosed that they had known the subject member personally through their roles as a members but this would not affect their judgement in this matter.