Issue - meetings

Report of Assistant Director Law and Governance and Monitoring Officer

Purpose of report

To provide the Committee an annual report on matters relating to standards and conduct of Members within the Cherwell District at District and Parish level, complaints made to the Local Government Ombudsman and other matters for the municipal year of 2024/2025.

Recommendations

The Accounts, Audit and Risk Committee resolves:

1.1       To note the content of the report, which will also be circulated to all Town and Parish Councils in the district for information.

Resolved

(1)    That the Monitoring Officer report including the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman Annual Report be noted and it be noted it would be circulated to all Town and Parish Councils in the district for information.

The Assistant Director Law and Governance and Monitoring Officer submitted an annual report on matters relating to the standards and conduct of Members within the Cherwell District at District and parish level and information in respect of complaints made to the Local Government Ombudsman in the 2024/25  municipal year.

In introducing the report, the Assistant Director Law and Governance and Monitoring Officer explained that it was incumbent on the Monitoring Officer to report on the functions for which he was responsible, including Code of Conduct matters. The standards of ethical conduct of Members at both District and Town and Parish level remained good.

With regard to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman Annual Report, the Committee was advised only one complaint had been upheld by the Ombudsman but overall, there were no serious concerns raised by the report.

Resolved

(1)    That the Monitoring Officer report including the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman Annual Report be noted and it be noted it would be circulated to all Town and Parish Councils in the district for information.