Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies or substitutions for the meeting.

There were no apologies.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 25 March 2021.

The minutes of the meeting held on 25 March 2021 were presented for consideration, and it was,

Resolved:

To approve and sign the minutes as a true and correct record.

To receive any declarations of disclosable interests, or dispensations granted by the Standards Committee.

There were no declarations.

To note the procedure and assessment criteria for the meeting.

The meeting procedure and assessment criteria was noted.

To consider passing the following resolution:

To agree that in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 to exclude the public from the meeting for the business specified in Agenda Item Numbers 6 onwards, because it is likely that if members of the public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 1 of Part I of Schedule 12A to the Act and the public interest in withholding the information outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information to the public.

Paragraph 1 - information relating to an individual

It was,

Resolved:

To agree that in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 to exclude the public from the meeting for the business specified in Agenda Item Number 6 onwards, because it is likely that if members of the public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 1 of Part I of Schedule 12A to the Act and the public interest in withholding the information outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information to the public.

The complaint had been considered at a meeting of the Sub-Committee on 25 March 2021, where it had been resolved to refer the matter for investigation. Following a material change in circumstances, the Sub-Committee met to consider if that change affected their decision.

.

Preamble

A complaint was received from Steve Perry (The Complainant) regarding the conduct of Councillor Sandie Webb (the Subject Member), a Member of Chippenham Town Council.

The complaint related to the response of the Subject Member, who is the Leader of the Town Council, to a question raised at a public meeting by the Complainant, who had not been present at the meeting during the period of the response but was subsequently provided a transcript of the response.

The response reportedly contained the lines “I actually find it very disappointing that Mr Perry has fashioned the question this way aiming it at me, 68 year old female Councillor rather than addressing our male CEO but then I suppose that is the nature of someone who doesn’t come along with his convictions and actually put out comments themselves. I’m afraid it really is something of a red herring to harp back to 2018 though we’re actually in the here and now with enormous issues to address. I’m sure that …..most people are not stuck in a time warp and realise that as circumstances change so must we.”

The Complainant considered the alleged response amounted to a breach of the principles of conduct in public life, a failure to promote and support high standards of conduct, and of paragraphs 4 and 5 of the Town Council Code, in respect of accountability and openness. He maintained that his question was not, as represented by the Subject Member, a misogynistic attack on the Subject Member as an individual.

The Subject Member contended that her response was an honest response to put into context a growing movement by the Complainant and a few more vocal individuals seeking to discredit certain individuals as a result of various matters relating to the town which have had strong political responses. She was responding to what she believed was a provocative personal attack fashioned at her, which she believed was in part misogynistic in nature as it was address to her rather than the male Chief Executive.

Assessment

At its 25 March 2021 the Sub-Committee were satisfied that the initial tests of the assessment criteria had been met, including that the Subject Member was and remains a member of Chippenham Town Council, that a copy of the relevant Code of Conduct was provided for the assessment, and that they were acting in their capacity as a Member during the various alleged actions.

They had therefore had to decide whether the alleged behaviour, if proven, would amount to a breach of the Code of Conduct, and if so, what action would be required. Further, if it would amount to a breach, whether it was appropriate under the assessment criteria.

At the meeting the Sub-Committee  ...  view the full minutes text for item 32.