Agenda and minutes

Nominations were sought for the appointment of Chairman for the meeting and it was proposed and seconded that Councillor I Davis be appointed Chairman for the meeting.

RESOLVED              That Councillor I Davis be appointed Chairman for the meeting.

There were no apologies for absence.

If a Member requires advice on Declarations of Interest, he/she is advised to contact the Borough Solicitor in advance of the meeting.   (For the assistance of members a checklist for use in considering their position on any particular item is included at the end of this agenda sheet).

Councillor J Davis declared a potential conflict of interest due the fact that his partner had provided a witness statement to the investigator in connection with item 4, left the Chamber and took no further part in the proceedings.

To hear and determine whether the Parish Councillor has breached the Code of Conduct and, if so, to decide if a sanction should be applied and what form the sanction should take.

The Sub-Committee conducted a hearing to consider an Investigation Report in respect of Parish Councillor Roger Bell, to determine whether or not he had failed to follow the Code of Conduct for Burscough Parish Council and if so, to decide whether or not a sanction should be applied and what form it should take.

RESOLVED           A.      That Parish Councillor Roger Bell has not failed to comply with the Burscough Parish Council Code of conduct at the meeting at Martin Mere on 30 June 2016 as he did not attend the meeting in the capacity of a Parish Councillor.

                                 B.      That Parish Councillor Roger Bell failed to comply with the Burscough Parish Council Code of Conduct at the meeting of Burscough Parish Council on 13 July 2016 in that he failed to treat others with respect at that meeting.

                                 C.      That Parish Councillor Roger Bell has not failed to comply with the Burscough Parish Council Code of Conduct at the meeting of Burscough Parish Council on 13 July 2017 in that his conduct at the meeting did not constitute bullying.

                                 D.      That Parish Councillor Roger Bell has not failed to comply with the Burscough Parish Council Code of Conduct at the meeting of Burscough Parish Council on 13 July 2016 in that his conduct at the meeting could not reasonably be regarded as likely to bring his office as Parish Councillor or the Parish Council into disrepute.

                                 E.      That the reasons for the findings be agreed, as set out in the Decision Notice.

                                 F.      That the Decision Notice be published on the Council’s website.