Article: Complaints about Councillors Article Body You can complain if you think that a councillor at Barnsley Council or at any of the borough's Parish and Town Councils has behaved inappropriately or broken the code of conduct that all councillors have to abide by. Your complaint will be dealt with by a Standards Committee that the council has set up. This committee can only deal with complaints about what people have done while they have been councillors not before they were elected or after they left the council. It can also only deal with complaints about behaviour that have occurred since 2002. When you are making a complaint about a councillor please give as much information as possible on the councillor, such as which council (Barnsley Council, Parish and Town Councils) they are a member of. However, it wont affect how your complaint is handled if you do not have this information. Councillors behaviour - What you can complain about? You can complain about a councillor if you think that they have: Failed to treat people with respect Conducted themselves in a manner which could reasonably be regarded as bringing his or her office into disrepute Used their position as a councillor improperly to secure for him or her self or any other person, an advantage or disadvantage Did something which may seriously prejudice their council's ability to comply with any of its statutory duty under the equality law Bullied a person Intimidated or attempted to intimidate someone who is or is likely to be a complainant or witness in relation to an investigation. Did something which compromised or which is likely to compromise the impartiality of those who work for, or on behalf of, the council Disclosed information given in confidence to them by anyone, or information acquired which he or she believes is of a confidential nature, except where: They have the consent of a person authorised to give it; or For professional advice, providing the advisor agrees to maintain the confidentiality; or Where disclosure is reasonable and in the public interest, and this disclosure is made in good faith Prevented another person from gaining access to information to which the person is authorised by law When using the council's resources, or authorising their use by others: Not acting in accordance with the council's requirements; or Allowing such resources to be used for political purposes; or Not having regard to the Local Authority Code of Publicity. When taking decisions: Failing to have regard to advice provided by the Chief Finance Officer and the Monitoring Officer; and Failing to give reasons for those decisions in accordance with any statutory requirements or additional requirements imposed by the council Failed to register any gifts or hospitality (and the source), that they have received in their role as member worth over £25. Failed to register their financial or other interests within 28 days of their election or appointment or within 28 days of a change in circumstance Failed to declare a personal interest at a meeting Failed to declare a prejudicial interest at a meeting (an interest so significant that it is likely to affect their judgement) Took part in discussions or made a decision where they have a prejudicial interest Improperly influenced a decision about a matter that they have prejudicial interest in Making a complaint If you would like to complain about the behaviour of a councillor then please submit your complaint to: The Borough Secretary, Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council, Westgate Plaza One, PO Box 609, Barnsley, S70 9FH or email: andrewfrosdick@barnsley.gov.uk What happens once you submit your complaint? When you submit your complaint we will write to let you know we have received it. The member that you are complaining about will only be informed after the Assessment Sub Committee of the Standards Committee has met and decided whether or not to investigate the complaint. If the committee decides not to investigate the matter, then the councillor will not be informed. The Assessment Sub Committee will meet to consider your complaint and decide whether it should be: Referred to for investigation, which will happen within an average of 20 working days of the date from when we receive your complaint Considered for other action which may include options such as requiring the person you have complained about to apologise or undergo training or mediation. If the committee decides to refer your complaint for other action it will explain what this involves If the committee decide that no action is necessary, the complainant can ask this decision to be reviewed by another sub-committee involving different members The meetings of the Assessment Sub Committee are closed, which means that you will not be able to attend, and neither will the councillor(s) you have complained about.