Members of the public may ask questions or make statements at this meeting if they have given notice and provided the text to Democratic Services Officer (details below) no later than midday on Tuesday, 10 March 2026, three working days before the day of the meeting.
Each speaker should limit themselves to three minutes on any item. If you are exercising your right to speak at this meeting, but do not wish to be recorded, please inform the Chair who will instruct those taking a recording to cease whilst you speak.
Minutes:
One public statement was received that did not relate to an item on the agenda and was dealt with under this agenda item and is detailed below.
1.
Public statement from Christopher Dunn
“I wish to make the following statement to the Standards Committee, I wish to attend the meeting in person, acting as a citizen only.
I am an eighty year old, autistic male, retired teacher/engineer, and have experienced councillor standards procedures in two counties of England. I am aware of the 'Government Response to Standards (GRP), 11 02 2026.
The UK model code of conduct for councillors includes provision for the chair of any meeting to act in a quasi judicial role to remove or discipline so called errant councillors, yet there is no such disciplinary conduit for so called errant chairs, this I believe is unfair.
Any councillor can be a complainant, but if they are a chair it can appear to carry superior credibility of evidence, and if the chair acts in a complaining duopoly with the Clerk/Proper Officer, the weight/credibility of evidence could be overwhelming in disfavour especially towards a sole complained subject councillor, this I believe to be unfair.
Standards guidelines suggest that the complained subject can seek advice or succour from a council clerk, this avenue is impossible if the Clerk is a complainant, this I believe is unfair.
Most UK councils seem to 'divi up' membership of any committee in the same proportion of the party's proportion of the council as a whole, this I believe to be unwise and unfair.
So called errant councillors can be: extremely independent; have no party succour; neuro divergent; have no professional support; have no right of appeal; yet I notice that NYC legal officer recommends just 'noting' the Government Response Paper (GRP) ,despite it suggesting supporting succour provision as in para g (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), (vi), (h), this I believe to be grossly unfair.
GRP. para 3.2 (i) suggests that there has to be MULTIPLE vexatious complaints before any action is taken, this I believe to be unfair.
GRP. para 3.2 b (viii) suggests 'independent' chairs, I believe NYC is probably at present unwise.
Please be fair to the lonely; supportless; hapless; independent councillor; they can be easy target.”
An officer response to this public statement was received, as detailed below:
“Thank you for your statement to
the Committee, Mr Dunn.
North Yorkshire Council’s
standards regime is based on the legislative framework under the Localism Act
2011 and national guidance.
The current model code of conduct
for councillors applies to elected councillors and voting co-opted members when
they are acting in their official capacity.
An authority’s standing orders may set out how a chair may conduct and
control a meeting.
Anyone may make a complaint to
the Monitoring Officer that a councillor may have breached the code of conduct.
All such complaints are considered objectively in accordance with the Council’s
standards complaint procedure and assessment criteria and in consultation,
where appropriate, with one of the Independent Persons for Standards, to see if
any further action needs to be taken in relation to it. All Councillor
complaints are treated on their own facts and whether a chair or a ‘backbench’
councillor makes a complaint does not necessarily attach greater weight - each
case is considered on its own merits.
The Committee appreciates that
being the subject of a complaint can be stressful. As explained in the
standards complaint procedure, which is sent to all parties to a complaint,
Subject Members are able to talk to one of the
Council’s Independent Persons for Standards about the complaints process should
they so wish and other support may be available, for example the allocation of
a named officer to support the Subject Member through the process.
The Government has consulted on strengthening the standards regime and the Committee has been briefed on the Government’s response to the consultation and its intention to introduce new legislation to reform the current standards regime when Parliamentary time allows. The Committee will review its regime in light of any future legislative changes.”