Review of an Assessment Decision: Reference COC 122329
Supporting documents:
Minutes:
Preamble
A complaint had been made by Shahid Ghafoor regarding the alleged conduct of Cllr Atiqul Hoque of Wiltshire Council.
In reaching its decision, the Sub-Committee took into account the complaint, the response of the Subject Member, the initial assessment decision to take no further action, and the complainant’s request for a review. Neither party was in attendance nor had provided statements for the meeting
Conclusion
The complaint involved alleged behaviour by the Subject Member during a phone conversation with the complainant’s employers regarding an ongoing dispute between them.
However, upon going through the initial tests of the assessment criteria, the Sub-Committee agreed with the initial assessment decision that while the Subject Member was in office at the relevant time, that there was a Code of Conduct in force, and the complaint was made within the relevant time period, no evidence had been provided, at any stage, to indicate that the Subject Member had been acting in anything other than a private capacity. Simply being a Member of a Council would not render any action taken by that Member as being subject to its Code of Conduct.
It was therefore resolved to uphold the initial assessment decision to take no further action in respect of the complaint.
Decision
In accordance with the approved arrangements for resolving standards complaints adopted by Council on 26 June 2012, which came into effect on 1 July 2012 and after hearing from the Independent Person, the Review Sub-Committee decided to take no further action.