Guidelines against 'vexatious complainants' could be incorporated into a new code of conduct for Warwickshire councillors

Guidelines against vexatious complainants should be incorporated into a new Code of Conduct for councillors.

That is the message from a member of Warwickshire County Council’s audit and standards committee during a discussion into the Local Government Association’s draft document.

The guidelines were drawn up following a Civility In Public Life event and a number of workshops staged by the LGA. As well as civility, they also consider bullying, harassment and disrepute.

A report accompanying the document explained to those on the audit and standards committee that all councils needed a Member Code of Conduct.

It added: “The role of councillor in all tiers of local government is a vital part of our system of democracy. In voting for a local councillor, the public is imbuing that person and position with their trust.

“As such, it is important that councillors can be held accountable and all adopt the behaviours and responsibilities associated with the role. The conduct of an individual councillor affects the reputation of all councillors. The role of councillor should be one that people aspire to and want to participate with.

“It is important that we continue to attract individuals from a range of backgrounds and circumstances who understand the responsibility they take on and are motivated to make a positive difference to their local communities.”

It added that the Model Member Code of Conduct had been developed by the LGA in consultation with the local government sector and was offered as a template for councils to adopt.

Cllr David Reilly (Con, Coleshill North and Water Orton) praised the document but offered a word of caution.

He said: “At district level, there are a number of complaints being made. It seems to be that the complaints system has fallen into a tactic whereby you can make a complaint and there is no comeback to the complainant. But the complainant can complain about anything - it subjects the person who has been complained about not only to an investigation but also quite a stressful period of their lives.

“There is a question about raising with the LGA about false complaints. When I was a serving police officer there were regulations about how you dealt with vexatious complainants and, as councillors, we will all know that there are certain people within our communities. We need to be clear as to how we protect members as well as opening them up to scrutiny.”

On a positive note, Cllr Bill Gifford (Lib Dem, Leamington Milverton) said: “I have been on this committee for a number of years now and I don’t think we have had a case come before us. I don't think that’s been because we’ve been lax or that the monitoring officer has not done their job, it’s because I think on the whole we are a very civilised council.”