New procedure for complaints about councillors

From this month (May 2008) Shropshire County Council’s standards committee is responsible for considering claims that a county councillor may have breached the councillors’ Code of Conduct.

Previously the Standards Board for England looked into such complaints.

Ways that councillors may breach the Code include: unlawfully discriminating against someone; failing to treat people with respect; bullying; or using their position improperly, to their own or someone else’s advantage or disadvantage.

Anyone unhappy with the behaviour of their councillor is encouraged to first try to resolve the problem by contacting the councillor direct.

However, if they are unable to resolve the issue and want to take the complaint further, they should now send details to The Assessment Sub-Committee, c/o The Monitoring Officer, Shropshire County Council, Shirehall, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY2 6ND.

15 May 2008